Abstract
In this study, we investigated an electronics recycling plant in Japan. At the plant, dismantling and shredding processes of waste television (TV) sets with highest polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) concentrations considered in their housing rear covers were especially focused. Air monitoring for BFRs {i.e., PBDEs, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBP-A) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)} and polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PBDD/DFs) was conducted in the above two processes for TV sets. During investigation, technical countermeasures to reduce particle dust were introduced by the plant and a difference of BFR and PBDD/DF concentrations and patterns in air samples was evaluated before and after taking the measures. Additionally, in order to know sources of occurring BFRs and PBDD/DFs in the air at the dismantling hall, a dust sample collected from the air was compared with TV inside dust and TV housing cover samples in terms with their chemical compositions. Finally, air emission amounts and factors of PBDEs from the two TV recycling processes were calculated by using the obtained data.
