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Substance flow analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in plastic from EEE/WEEE in Nigeria in the frame of Stockholm Convention as a basis for policy advice

  • 12th IHPA Forum and selected studies on POPs
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Abstract

This study investigated the material/substance flow of polybrominated diphenyl ethers listed in the Stockholm Convention (SC) as persistent organic pollutant (POP-PBDEs) in the most relevant plastic fractions in Nigeria. Considering the prohibition of production and the use of POP-PBDEs and knowing that these pollutants are still contained in electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) and associated wastes (WEEE), it is necessary to determine their flows, especially in developing countries with limited end-of-life management. Following the inventory approach of the SC Guidance and utilizing the existing national e-waste inventory together with monitoring data, a material/substance flow analysis was conducted using the STAN tool. Within the period of 2000 to 2010, the total import for EEE/WEEE in Category 3 and 4 was approximately 8 million tonnes (Mt) containing approximately 2.4 Mt of polymers. For the inventory year 2010, it was estimated that from these polymers, about 0.8 Mt was still in stock and 1.6 Mt has reached the end-of-life. It was also estimated that approximately 1.1 Mt has ended in dumpsites, 0.3 Mt was burned in the open, and 0.2 Mt was recycled. In the plastic fractions, 1,270 t of POP-PBDEs was contained with about 370 t still in use/stock and approximately 900 t has entered the end-of-life phase. All three major end-of-life treatments result in environmental pollution with associated exposure risk. The implementation of the Stockholm Convention represents an important opportunity to improve this management situation in Nigeria and other developing countries.

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Notes

  1. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/828236/en-us

  2. Adding to the tonnes of PBDD/PBDF already present in the Nigerian plastic flow (Sindiku et al. 2014b).

  3. Cement kiln might have lower prices

  4. If an appropriate separation of plastic takes place with destruction of waste plastics in industrial countries then export and processing in developing countries can be environmentally sound (Stockholm Convention 2012b).

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Acknowledgments

The fund from the Norwegian government to the Stockholm Convention Secretariat for financing the PBDE in WEEE plastic project is appreciated. Also the support of Professor Paul Brunner for the use of the STAN tool is appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Joshua Babayemi, Omotayo Sindiku & Oladele Osibanjo

  2. Basel Convention Coordinating Centre for Training and Technology Transfer for the African Region, University of Ibadan, 1 Ijoma Road, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Oladele Osibanjo

  3. POPs Environmental Consulting, Lindenfirststr. 23, 73527, Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany

    Roland Weber

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  1. Joshua Babayemi
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  2. Omotayo Sindiku
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  3. Oladele Osibanjo
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  4. Roland Weber
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Correspondence to Roland Weber.

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Babayemi, J., Sindiku, O., Osibanjo, O. et al. Substance flow analysis of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in plastic from EEE/WEEE in Nigeria in the frame of Stockholm Convention as a basis for policy advice. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22, 14502–14514 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3228-6

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