Assessment of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether Flame Retardants in Electronic Waste and Soil at Dumpsites in Lagos State

Electronic waste represents a rapidly growing and hazardous waste stream globally, and informal electronic waste dismantling and dumping activities in Lagos State generate significant environmental contamination with persistent organic pollutants including polybrominated diphenyl ethers. This study assessed polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations in electronic waste components, soil, and dust samples from three major informal electronic waste processing sites in Lagos, including Alaba International Market, Computer Village, and Olusosun dumpsite. Samples underwent accelerated solvent extraction and were purified by multi-layer silica gel column chromatography before analysis by gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. The fifteen major congeners targeted included BDE-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, BDE-154, BDE-183, and BDE-209. Polybrominated diphenyl ether concentrations in printed circuit board fragments ranged from 12,400 to 68,200 nanograms per gram dry weight. Soil concentrations within the processing sites ranged from 2,800 to 18,600 nanograms per gram, substantially exceeding European eco-toxicological screening values. BDE-47 and BDE-99 dominated the congener profiles in soil. BDE-209, characteristic of the DecaBDE commercial mixture, was abundant in dust samples. Concentrations declined sharply at 50 metres outside the processing areas, confirming site-specific contamination. Workers at the informal processing sites were identified as particularly vulnerable to exposure via inhalation of contaminated dust. These results constitute an empirical contribution to the characterisation of electronic waste contamination in Lagos and urgently call for formalisation of electronic waste management and comprehensive health monitoring of processing site workers.

Keywords: polybrominated diphenyl ethers, electronic waste, flame retardants, Lagos State, persistent organic pollutants