Assessment and Quantification of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Soils of E-Waste Dumpsites in Benin City, Nigeria

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of synthetic halogenated organic compounds used in a number of polymer-based commercial and home-use products. They are incoporated in the manufacture of electronics devices, furniture and textiles to increase resistance to flames and to meet set out fire safety standards. Generally, PBDEs are characterized by long range atmospheric transport, high bioaccumulation and toxicities. There is a dearth of information on the concentrations of PBDEs and the pattern of distribution at the various e-waste dump and dismantling sites in Nigeria. In this study, we assessed the concentration of PBDEs in areas where waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) plastics have been dumped and dismantled over a period of time. Three (3) different locations in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, where these WEEE materials are dumped were studied. Soil samples were analysed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS). The results showed that most of the PBDEs assessed were below detectable limits (<0.01ng/g) but Octa brominated diphenyl ether (OctaBDE-79) was present at concentrations ranging from 1.91-1.94ng/g. Conclusively, PBDEs are present in WEEE dumpsites as burning releases some of the PBDEs present in these materials and also as a result of leaching from the WEEE plastics into the soil over time.