Presence of Persistent Organic Pollutants (BDEs, HBCD and Cl-OPFRs) in solid waste: risk of exposure and its impact on the recycling process

• Grant number: 22/14797-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2023
• End date: February 28, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: André Henrique Rosa
• Grantee: Hansel David Burgos Melo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciência e Tecnologia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Sorocaba. Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) represent a group of synthetic organic chemicals that are priority in environmental risk assessment, due to the fact that they can cause problems to biota and human health even at low concentrations. Among POPs, brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chlorinated organophosphate retardants (Cl-OPFRs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) have been widely used for the production of polymers due to their flame retardant properties to prevent fires that can endanger the lives of people and the very integrity of the materials. These substances have high stability in the environment and are therefore highly cumulative in the reuse and recycling process. Thus, the proposed project aims to verify the presence and risk of human exposure to BFRs, Cl-OPFRs and HBCD in polymeric materials from different groups of waste in Brazil, to verify if pollutants would represent an obstacle and/or a challenge for the implementation of the Circular Economy in Brazil. It is intended to evaluate the study of polymeric materials from urban construction waste (styrofoam boards and insulating boards), electrical and electronic equipment, packaging coatings, household materials (such as curtains, rugs and rugs), as well as foams for upholstery, mattresses and articles such as bottles, pacifiers, car seats, baby changing facilities, etc. The results may contribute to the establishment of public policies regarding the destination and regulation of compounds, including impacts for the circular economy, which is based on the maximum use, reuse and recycling of materials in the production system.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MELO, HANSEL DAVID BURGOS; DE SOUZA-ARAUJO, JULIANA; GARZON, LAURA GERALDINE BENAVIDES; MARCEDO, JOAO CARLOS; CARDOSO, RAFAEL; MANCINI, SANDRO DONNINI; HARRAD, STUART; ROSA, ANDRE HENRIQUE. Concentrations and legislative aspects of PBDEs in plastic of waste electrical and electronic equipment in Brazil. Science of The Total Environment, v. 906, p. 8-pg., 2023-09-29. (21/11549-0, 22/00985-6, 22/14797-7)