Distribution of Ah-receptor agonists in soils contaminated by electronic waste recycling
电子垃圾处理地土壤中芳烃受体效应物质的分布规律

A total of 23 surface soil organic extracts from three villages in an electronic waste (e-waste) recycling center (one town) in southern China were assayed using the ethoxyresorfin O-deethylase (EROD) bioassay to assess the levels and spatial distribution of Ah-receptor agonists. The highest levels of Ah-agonists were observed in the village for plastic recovery, followed by the villages for circuit board recovery and equipment dismantling. In comparison with previous data in literature, concentrations of Ah-receptor agonists in soils in the typical e-waste recycling center were higher than contaminated soils in Tianjin, where traditional industry is dominant. The great variance in spatial distribution of dioxin-like chemicals might be related to the industrial division of the local e-waste recycling business. Primitive e-waste recycling activities result in the accumulation of Ah-receptor agonists in soils, and the EROD bioassay could be a useful alternative method for screening and evaluation of risks on a regional scale.