The purpose of this study is to provide environmentally sound management on the import of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEEs) by investigating the hazardous elements, and the hazardous characteristics thereof, in this waste, and by reviewing the extant criteria causing them to exhibit an Annex III characteristic on Basel Convention. The investigation of imported WEEEs found that the importing volume has gradually increased since 2009 and 95.9% of imported WEEEs, which are mainly classified as Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and its scrap in 2015, is designated as restriction wastes. Also, it is important to designate and unify the hazardous element list and the characteristics of WEEEs because the analytical items and their test methods submitted in the test report are designated differently for each local authority. We confirmed that three kinds of criteria are applied to determine whether the target wastes are hazardous or not: the content criteria for 8 kinds of elements on import bans of wastes, the content criteria for 8 kinds of elements sufficient for allowing wastes to be imported, and the leaching criteria for 13 kinds of elements to classified as a specified waste. Among them, five elements (hexavalent chromium, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury) are managed for the WEEEs in Korea. Therefore, it is necessary to catalog the total contents of hazardous chemicals caused by hazardous characteristics of other elements (beryllium, antimony, etc.), as can happen to WEEEs.

In this study, we investigated the distribution of domestic nanomaterials. Zinc oxide (ZnO), titanium dioxide (TiO2), and silver (Ag) nanoparticles, as well as carbon (C) nanotubes, were selected, and their circulation and quantity in use was investigated. We also analyzed leaching and of heavy metals in nanowaste. Chemical composition was determined using Xray diffraction and fluorescence (XRD and XRF) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using XRF and XRD analysis, sludge from a facility using zinc oxide was found to have silicon dioxide (SiO2) and TiO2 as its main components. Sludge from a facility using TiO2 was found to have TiO2 as its main component. Samples of Ag nanoparticle and C nanotubes manufacturer measured elemental components of Ag and C, respectively. TEM analysis showed Si O2 in the form of dust sample from a facility manufacturing ZnO. Carbon nanotube samples of manufacturers were in the form of fibers. Leaching test results showed low concentrations compared to the regulation criteria of the Wastes Control Act. Content result of Zn was detected at -111.7 ~ 24,843.4 mg/kg in ZnO samples. Content result of Ti was detected at 1.51 ~ 35.28 mg/kg in TiO2 samples. Oil mop samples of Ag nanoparticle were detected in Ag (29,643.07 mg/kg) and Cu (15,600.8 mg/kg).