Levels, Distributions and Profiles of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Paddy Fields from Two Towns in a Typical Electronic Waste Recycling Area of Eastern China

Surface soil (0 similar to 10 cm) samples from Zeguo and Wenqiao, two towns in a typical electronic waste (E-waste) recycling area of eastern China, were collected and analyzed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The mean concentration of total 58 PCBs congeners in Zeguo and Wenqiao were 62.8 and 144.8 mu g.kg(-1) (dry weight), respectively, with a range from 13.3 to 242.2, and 27.1 to 526.3 mu g.kg(-1), respectively. The concentrations of total PCBs decreased in the order of paddy fields near E-waste recycling workshops (NEW) > paddy fields near E-waste recycling plants (NEP) > paddy fields in open burning villages (OBV) > paddy fields in other villages (OV). The difference of PCBs composition in OBV or OV areas between Zeguo and Wenqiao indicated that the PCBs concentration in paddy fields were affected significantly by atmospheric transportation and direct discharge. Furthermore, the composition of PCBs in Zeguo and Wenqiao was different, Zeguo soils near the E-waste recycling working plants and workshops contained more high chlorinated PCB congeners and less low chlorinated PCBs compared with Wenqiao soil, possibly indicating the difference of PCBs major source were different. The results of present study suggested that the soil in Zeguo and Wenqiao towns was heavily polluted by PCBs because of E-waste recycling activities. Compared with the large scale E-waste recycling plants, the small simple household workshops have been contributing more PCBs pollution to the soil environment. However, due to the lack of data about the human exposure in this area, it is unconvincing that the analysis of soil samples collected from the crude and inappropriate E-waste recycling area would pose significant threat to human. It is expected to learn much more about the extent and long-term effects of these particular E-waste activities on environmental and human health.