On-site characteristics of airborne particles at a formal electronic waste recycling plant: size distribution and lung deposited surface area

An electrical low-pressure impactor was used to measure the particulate matter (PM) characteristics in a formal e-waste recycling plant. The size distributions based on particle mass, number, and lung deposited surface area (LDSA) in different workshops were on-site detected and compared. The results show that PM emission characteristics were related to recycling processes and auxiliary activities. Coarse particles (PM10-2.5) possessed the main mass percentage in the workshops, and fine particles (PM2.5) mass constituted 27-46% of the PM10 mass. A unimodal distribution pattern was observed for the size distribution of LDSA values, and the peak value of LDSA at different sampling sites except TV-D workshop was observed at a diameter of 0.2 mu m. When grouped by job tasks, TV dismantling and printed circuit board (PCB) heating had the highest PM pollution. The PCB heating process led to the continuous emission of fine particles, and the LDSA concentration was the highest (237 mu m(2)/cm(3)). In addition, the usage of a forklift truck for material movement can cause fine particle emissions from diesel engine combustion. All the results can provide basic information for the characterization of PM emitted from various e-waste recycling processes, and for assessing the exposure risk of PM.