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Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Gaseous elemental mercury emissions from informal E-Waste recycling facilities in Pakistan
AU - Kazim, M.
AU - Hussain Syed, J.
AU - Binnur Kurt-Karakus, P.
AU - Ozkaleli Akcetin, M.
AU - Akram, S.
AU - Birgul, A.
AU - Kara, M.
AU - Dumanoglu, Y.
AU - Odabasi, M.
AU - Saqib, Z.
AU - Nasir, J.
AU - Mahar, A.
AU - Shah, T.
AU - Gulzar Burq, M.
AU - Jones, K.C.
AU - Wania, F.
PY - 2023/10/1
Y1 - 2023/10/1
N2 - Detrimental effects of mercury (Hg) on ecosystems and human health have been well-documented. Whereas emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from e-waste recycling have been reported in developed countries, much less is known about the situation in the Global South. Using a total of 132 passive air samplers, seasonally resolved concentrations of GEM in air were measured continuously at 32 informal e-waste recycling facilities and background location in Pakistan for a period of one year between September 2020 and December 2021. Annual average GEM concentrations at the studied locations ranged from 1.8 to 92 ng m −3. Among the studied cities, higher concentrations were measured in Karachi (mean ± s.d: 17 ± 22, range: 4.2–92 ng m −3), Lahore (16 ± 4.2, 8.2–22 ng m −3) and Peshawar (15 ± 17, 4.9–80 ng m −3), while lower levels were measured in Hyderabad (6.9 ± 6.2, 3.1–25 ng m −3), consistent with a higher rate of informal recycling activities in metropolitan areas. Seasonally, higher GEM levels occurred during autumn (15 ± 16: 3.3–92 ng m −3) and summer (13 ± 8.7: 1.8–80 ng m −3) than in winter (12 ± 8.4: 2.5–49 ng m −3) and spring (9.2 ± 7.3: 1.8–80 ng m −3), possibly reflecting enhanced volatilization at higher temperatures and/or varying magnitude of recycling operations in different seasons. Policies and strict regulations related to e-waste management should be developed and implemented urgently in the country.
AB - Detrimental effects of mercury (Hg) on ecosystems and human health have been well-documented. Whereas emissions of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) from e-waste recycling have been reported in developed countries, much less is known about the situation in the Global South. Using a total of 132 passive air samplers, seasonally resolved concentrations of GEM in air were measured continuously at 32 informal e-waste recycling facilities and background location in Pakistan for a period of one year between September 2020 and December 2021. Annual average GEM concentrations at the studied locations ranged from 1.8 to 92 ng m −3. Among the studied cities, higher concentrations were measured in Karachi (mean ± s.d: 17 ± 22, range: 4.2–92 ng m −3), Lahore (16 ± 4.2, 8.2–22 ng m −3) and Peshawar (15 ± 17, 4.9–80 ng m −3), while lower levels were measured in Hyderabad (6.9 ± 6.2, 3.1–25 ng m −3), consistent with a higher rate of informal recycling activities in metropolitan areas. Seasonally, higher GEM levels occurred during autumn (15 ± 16: 3.3–92 ng m −3) and summer (13 ± 8.7: 1.8–80 ng m −3) than in winter (12 ± 8.4: 2.5–49 ng m −3) and spring (9.2 ± 7.3: 1.8–80 ng m −3), possibly reflecting enhanced volatilization at higher temperatures and/or varying magnitude of recycling operations in different seasons. Policies and strict regulations related to e-waste management should be developed and implemented urgently in the country.
U2 - 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.014
DO - 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.09.014
M3 - Journal article
VL - 170
SP - 261
EP - 269
JO - Waste Management
JF - Waste Management
SN - 0956-053X
ER -