Ewaste releasing toxic chemicals into soil in metros, says study

MUMBAI: Informal electronic waste (e-waste) recycling units in the country’s metros are releasing some of the most toxic chemicals into the soil, says a study.

The multinational study, led by SRM University, Tamil Nadu, and funded by the ministry of environment, forests and climate change, which tested five soil samples each from 28 e-waste recycling sites in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata, found that the soil contained highly toxic and hazardous polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF). The study found 90% of samples were contaminated with 26 compounds of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBS) — a persistent organic pollutant (POP).

PCBS are industrial chemicals, and PCDD and PCDF are produced unintentionally during the incomplete process of combustion. All three compounds feature in the ‘dirty dozen’ list of banned pollutants under the Stockholm Convention, a global treaty to which India is a signatory.

“Developing countries like India have never manufactured these compounds. These can keep cycling back into the environment,” said Paromita Chakraborty, lead investigator, SRM University.

The highest PCB contamination was recorded in soil samples at recycling workshops engaged in precious metal recovery (88%), followed by grinding or shredding workshops (4%), dismantling sites (4%) and open dump sites (4%).

“These toxic components are carcinogenic and can seriously affect health and lead to various ailments for not only those at the site, but also those living around the area,” said Chakraborty.

PCBS ARE INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, AND PCDD AND PCDF

ARE PRODUCED UNINTENTIONALLY DURING INCOMPLETE COMBUSTION