Abstract
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are one of the additive flame retardants widely used in plastics, textiles, and electronic appliances including computers, televisions etc. PBDEs are of concern due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, and possible adverse effects in wildlife and humans. Recently, the export of electrical and electronic equipment waste (E-waste) from developed to developing countries has become a growing environmental issue owing to concerns about improper recycling of these goods in developing countries. A survey of the available scientific literature was conducted in order to gather hard data on workplace and environmental pollution, human exposure to PBDEs and the resulting adverse effects due to primitive E-waste recycling. As a result, serious environmental pollution by toxic chemicals including PBDEs has become obvious in villages where e-waste recycling takes place. There is growing evidence that primitive E-waste recycling in developing countries in Asia leads to high PBDE body burdens in local residents and can potentially threaten human health.
