Environmental contamination and public health effects of electronic waste: an overview

Alabi, Okunola A.; Adeoluwa, Yetunde M; Huo, Xia; Xu, Xijin; Bakare, Adekunle A.

doi:10.1007/s40201-021-00654-5

Cited by 45 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 146 publications

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“…However, the equipment contains hazardous components, materials, and chemicals, therefore, improperly disposed e-waste may result in negative impacts, not only on the environment but also on humans' health. E-wastes contain dangerous chemicals such as polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as well as heavy metals such as nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) [10]. Improper disposal of e-waste means that it is treated similarly to the treatment of other household waste, which usually is placed in waste landfills.…”

Section: Literature Review and Development Of Hypotheses 21 Electric And Electronic Waste (E-waste)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Poisonous chemicals will also seep into the ground, slowly polluting the environment and where exposure to these toxic chemical and material constituents may lead to health problems among humans. Several studies document that humans exposed to e-waste may experience several health issues such as changes in thyroid function, respiratory problems, changes in temperament and behaviour, decreased lung function, DNA damage, and cancer [10,11].…”

Section: Literature Review and Development Of Hypotheses 21 Electric And Electronic Waste (E-waste)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Toxic and hazardous chemicals will be generated through open burning, or by permeating the soil, thus endangering human health and the environment. Improperly managed e-waste results in soil, atmospheric and aquatic contamination [8,10], which poses a threat to humans, animals and plants [10]. Within humans, exposure to e-waste leads…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Firm and Board Characteristics, and E-Waste Disclosure: A Study in the Era of Digitalisation

et al. 2021

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Business sectors face the advent of digitalisation, bringing attention to e-waste, or waste generated from obsolete electrical and electronic appliances. In addressing this issue, the study intends to examine e-waste disclosure by Bursa Malaysia listed firms. Specifically, this study investigates the extent and quality of e-waste disclosure, observes whether the reporting differs between industries and the boards on which the firms are listed, and investigates if e-waste disclosure is associated with firm and board characteristics. A total of 92 firms in the telecommunication and technology industries, listed on the Main and Ace boards of Bursa Malaysia, were selected as samples. The results reveal that despite an indication that e-waste reporting applies to the two sectors, only 16% of the firms report their commitment to managing e-waste. The disclosure shows how e-waste reporting is low in quantity and is circulated with only very general, qualitative information. An independent sample t-test reveals that firms listed on the Main board report significantly more e-waste information than their counterparts. Another t-test indicates an insignificant difference in e-waste disclosure between the firms under study. Furthermore, firm size significantly impacts e-waste disclosure, while firm performance, board size, and board gender diversity show insignificant impact. The results of this preliminary study shed some light on business firms’ commitment towards their e-waste management and reporting, which is a substantial factor for Malaysia to achieve environmental sustainability.

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Section: Literature Review and Development Of Hypotheses 21 Electric And Electronic Waste (E-waste)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Review and Development Of Hypotheses 21 Electric And Electronic Waste (E-waste)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Firm and Board Characteristics, and E-Waste Disclosure: A Study in the Era of Digitalisation

et al. 2021

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“…This means that, unlike other environmental contaminants, an early ETS exposure may have fewer short-term effects, but harmful long-term effects, suggesting the need for longitudinal studies to understand countermeasures that need to be implemented. Recently, alongside traditional environmental contaminants, also those that are consequential in manufacturing activities, such as plastic pollution and electronic waste (e-waste), have become the fastest increasing waste stream worldwide, with probable harmful public health effects [ 45 ]. Although data in this field are still scarce, the timing and method of exposure to e-waste are closely related to the social and economic context.…”

Section: Vulnerability To Contaminants: From Environmental To Lifestyle Chemical Agentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environment in Children’s Health: A New Challenge for Risk Assessment

Mastorci

Linzalone

Ait-Alì

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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In the last few years, many studies have focused on the effects of environmental contaminant exposure during the prenatal period or infancy as predictors of health outcomes in the future. In these time windows, due to their rapid growth, and physiologic and metabolic development, we can observe a higher vulnerability to the effects of environment, with respect to adulthood. The evidence of possible influences, partly mediated by epigenetic mechanisms, involve neurobehavioral responses and immune, endocrine, and respiratory systems, acting directly on the child or indirectly when mediated by placental transfer or breast feeding. In particular, due to a greater intake of air, food, and fluids relative to body weight, crawling behaviors and short stature, the risk of excessive exposure is greater in children. However, data on the long-term implications of early exposures are scarce. Additionally, so that physicians and institutions for child care and assistance of pregnant women can take actions to counteract the effects of chemical pollution (i.e., by educational opportunities), a risk assessment perspective that responds to the biocomplexity of the human being is needed. The present paper provides an overview of physiologic and behavioral characteristics during the perinatal period and in childhood, suggesting in a more integrated way, the need of a new risk-assessment approach to managing chronic disease in pediatric patients.

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“…The potentially harmful environmental and human health effects of primitive electronic-waste (e-waste) recycling processes, including manual disassembly, roasting, acid leaching, and open burning, have caused concern around the world, particularly in rapidly industrializing and urbanizing developing countries such as China, India, and Vietnam [ 1 , 2 ]. Notably, heavy metal pollution is ubiquitous in the environment and bodies of people living near e-waste disposal sites [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of Children’s Soil and Dust Ingestion Rates and Health Risk at E-Waste Dismantling Area

Yang

Zhang

Chen

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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Due to environmental health concerns, exposure to heavy metals and related adverse effects in electronic waste (e-waste) dismantling areas have attracted considerable interest in the recent years. However, little information is available about the Soil/Dust Ingestion Rates (SIR) of heavy metals for children living in such sites. This study estimated the soil ingestion of 66 children from e-waste disassembly areas by collecting and analyzing selected tracer elements in matched samples of their consumed food, feces, and urine, as well as soil samples from their play areas. The concentrations of tracer elements (including Al, Ba, Ce, Mn, Sc, Ti, Y, and V) in these samples were analyzed. The SIR was estimated to be 148.3 mg/day (median) and 383.3 mg/day (95th percentile) based on the Best Tracer Method (BTM). These values are somewhat higher than those observed in America, Canada, and other parts of China. Health risk assessments showed that Cr presented the greatest carcinogenic risk, at more than 10−6 in this typical polluted area, while As was second. These findings provide important insights into the exposure risks of heavy metals in e-waste dismantling sites and emphasize the health risk caused by Cr and As.

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Environmental contamination and public health effects of electronic waste: an overview

Cited by 45 publications

References 146 publications

Firm and Board Characteristics, and E-Waste Disclosure: A Study in the Era of Digitalisation

Firm and Board Characteristics, and E-Waste Disclosure: A Study in the Era of Digitalisation

Environment in Children’s Health: A New Challenge for Risk Assessment

Estimation of Children’s Soil and Dust Ingestion Rates and Health Risk at E-Waste Dismantling Area

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