Evidence of the human health effects of e waste exposure will be key to the development of effective protective policies. Apr 01, 2011 developmental neurotoxicants in e waste. Combustion from burning ewaste creates fine particulate matter, something that is linked to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. How ewaste is harmful to your health ag electronics. Pdf environment and health issues associated with ewaste. Bromine is a component in a group of fire retardant chemicals known as brominated flame retardants. The effects of improper disposal of this e waste on the environment are little known. Pdf health effects of exposure to ewaste researchgate. Dna damagecadmium toxic irreversible effects on human health. This information led to the idea for a research on where the difficulties lie for a smaller town in a developing country.
May 25, 2017 find free wordpress themes and plugins. It is an ingredient found in paints, solvents, and varnishes. Exposure to ewaste is a complex process in which many routes and sources of exposure, different lengths of exposure time, and possible inhibitory, synergistic, or additive effects of many chemical exposures are all important variables. These hazards can cause permanent and serious health problems that could begin without workers being aware of them. Jan 20, 2014 electronic waste or e waste is one of the emerging problems in developed and developing countries worldwide. This includes computing devices such as tablets, ipods, pcs, laptops, televisions and all home appliances. E waste and childrens health e waste electrical and electronic waste e waste, is a fast growing solid waste stream about 40 million tonnes of e waste are created globally each year. Pdf waste of electrical and electronic apparatuses generated in huge amount surround the earth today, and has become a global. Firoz khan department of geography, jamia millia islamia abstract. Youre probably aware of the environmental harm caused by this everincreasing waste stream, but recent ewaste statistics tell a troubling story about the harmful effects of ewaste on the human.
The available scientific evidence on the wasterelated health effects is not conclusive, but suggests the possible occurrence of serious adverse effects, including mortality, cancer, reproductive health, and milder effects affecting wellbeing. Environmental and health impacts of informal electronic waste recycling. E waste, also known as electronic waste, has come under attack in recent years due to its negative effects on the environment and human health e waste is often considered an overlooked epidemic, as the longterm impact of this waste is still unclear. Review of environmental and health effects of waste. Yes, its bad for the environment when your old cellphones, laptops, tvs and. Electronic waste an emerging threat to the environment of. How ewaste is harmful to your health how ewaste is harmful to your health ewaste is a term used for electronic products and computers that are thrown out, including laptops, tablets, printers, phones, game consoles, televisions, and dvd players, to name a few. It is associated with cognitive and developmental deficits. Effects of ewaste on the human body ewaste statistics. Environmental and health impacts of informal electronic waste.
Ewaste and childrens health ewaste electrical and electronic waste ewaste, is a fast growing solid waste stream about 40 million tonnes of ewaste are created globally each year. In developing countries, where most informal and primitive e waste recycling occurs, workers and others who live near these recycling facilities are exposed to dangerous chemicals with potentially longterm adverse health effects. The health effects of these toxins for humans include birth defects, brain, heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal system damage. Sep 28, 2007 e waste comprises of a multitude of components, some containing toxic substances that can have an adverse impact on human health and the environment if not handled properly. Unfortunately, these countries do not have the resources necessary to safely dispose of ewaste so the lives of these laborers are being put at risk.
Health impacts in developing countries ehs journal. If southern californians are in search for recycling e wastes services near them then is the right solution for them. However, informal ewaste recycling has offered employment opportunities, access to affordable electronic devices, and. Ewaste is hazardous because the components used to make devices such as laptops, cell phones, and televisions, contain metals and chemicals known to harm human health. Considering that the annual e waste production approximates 20mt, the total quantities of the several pollutants contained in the e waste flow result, to a great extent, in landfills or recycling centres affecting the environment andor public health. While the health implications of ewaste are difficult to isolate due to the informal working conditions, poverty, and poor sanitation, several studies in guiyu, a city in southeastern china, offer insight. Combustion from burning ewaste creates fine particulate matter, which is linked to pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Even a cell phone can contain 40 elements from the periodic table.
How much e waste exists is a difficult question to answer complicated by lack of a. Who has recently launched the ewaste and child health initiative aiming at protecting children and their families from detrimental health consequences due to ewaste. Combustion from burning e waste creates fine particulate matter, something that is linked to cardiovascular and pulmonary disease. E waste is hazardous because the components used to make devices such as laptops, cell phones, and televisions, contain metals and chemicals known to harm human health. Arsenic is found in many electronics, including cell phones.
How ewaste is harmful to your health ag electronics recycling. Pdf waste electrical and electronic equipment weee or ewaste generation is identified as one of the fastest growing waste streams. E waste, or electronic waste, is waste from all sorts of electronics ranging from computers and mobile phones, to household electronics such as food processors, pressure, cookers etc. E waste exposure is a complex process because there are many routes and sources, different exposure time periods, and possible inhibitory, synergistic, or additive effects of chemicals grant et al. Search terms included ewaste in africa, ewaste in developing nations, public health and ewaste, environment and ewaste, and ewaste and health. Public health burden of ewaste in africa journal of health. Effect of e waste on environmentelement effect on environmentlead damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems and kidney damage. Informal processing of ewaste in developing countries can lead to adverse human health effects and. Ewaste includes waste cathode ray tube crt televisions, desktops, laptops, crt monitors, liquid crystal display lcd monitors, cell phones, keyboards. Ewaste health hazards and environmental impacts green.
Children, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of e waste. With this approach, manufacturers are required to eliminate dangerous toxins from production. A challenge for sustainable development journal of. Ewaste can pose significant health hazards and negatively impact the environment.
Therefore, despite significant recycling, e waste is liable for 5000 t cu an. Electronic waste university of california, berkeley. Xylene, for example, is one of the most widely used chemicals in the united states. May 31, 2011 ewaste pollution threat to human health. Environmental pollution of waste dumping shows short and longterm effects on health porta et al. However, most are unaware of the harmful effects that improper e waste handling has on their health. E waste can pose significant health hazards and negatively impact the environment. Ewaste, also known as electronic waste, has come under attack in recent years due to its negative effects on the environment and human health ewaste is often considered an overlooked epidemic, as the longterm impact of this waste is still unclear. Even though the health implications of ewaste are hard to isolate because of informal working conditions, poverty and poor sanitation, a number of studies in guiyu a city in southeastern china, offer insight. Considering that the annual ewaste production approximates 20mt, the total quantities of the several pollutants contained in the ewaste flow result, to a great extent, in landfills or recycling centres affecting the environment andor public health. According to the centre for occupational and environmental health at maulana azad medical college in new delhi, recyclers and dismantlers have recorded dangerously high levels. The human and environmental effects of ewaste population. Effects of some of the chemicals found in ewaste on human health are given below.
Pdf in this paper the environmental problems related with the discarded electronic appliances, known as ewaste. Provide a quantitative assessment of selected pollutants and chemicals in water and soil at two prominent ewaste recycling sites, mandoli and loni, in and around delhi. Affects brain development of childrenchromium asthmatic bronchitis. Firoz khan department of geography, jamia millia islamia. Complex and sometimes illegal e waste trade goes to developing countries. The ewaste has various toxic and carcinogenic gases, and heavy metals, which have grievous effects on the health of workers involved in the activity of recycling it. Electronic waste or ewaste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for refurbishment, reuse, resale, salvage recycling through material recovery, or disposal are also considered ewaste. Workers may encounter hazards in electronic waste ewaste recycling, including the risk of injury, hearing loss, and exposure to toxic dusts and other chemicals. Aug 01, 2016 e waste cleanup is among the topnotch e waste cleanup or recycling companies in southern california having a wellversed experience in the field of recycling of e waste equipment. Children, who are especially vulnerable to the effects of ewaste. Electronic waste is a steadily growing problem for most of the world. Jun 28, 20 concern about the effects on health of chemical exposure to e waste and e waste recycling is increasing despite the paucity of solid research. Therefore, despite significant recycling, ewaste is liable for 5000 t cu an.
Exposure variability may come from the type and quantity of ewaste, length of processing history at. The ewaste has various toxic and carcinogenic gases, and heavy metals, which have grievous effects on the health of workers involved in the activity of recycling. Public health burden of ewaste in africa journal of. The human cost of ewaste the staggering effects of ewaste on the human body. Definitions vary but generally e waste include items like computers, cell phones, copiers, tvs, and microwaves. Effect of ewaste on environmentelement effect on environmentlead damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems and kidney damage. The poison arsenic is another way in how ewaste is harmful to your health. Complex and sometimes illegal ewaste trade goes to developing countries. In addition to its damaging effect on the environment and its illegal smuggling into developing countries, researchers have now linked ewaste to adverse effects on human health, such as inflammation and oxidative stress precursors to cardiovascular disease, dna damage and possibly cancer. Environmental and health effects of nuclear waste dumping in the arctic t the heart of the tremendous interest in the nuclear waste dumping that was carried out by the former soviet union in the arctic and north pacific are concerns over the potential human health effects or ecological impacts.
We aimed to summarise the evidence relating to the possible association between exposure to ewaste and health, and outcomes related to education and violence. Studies have shown that bromine contributes to the disruption in the thyroid hormone balance, brain damage and cancer. Solid waste management and health effects emma selin. Even though the health implications of e waste are hard to isolate because of informal working conditions, poverty and poor sanitation, a number of studies in guiyu a city in southeastern china, offer insight. Evidence of the human health effects of ewaste exposure will be key to the development of effective protective policies. The available scientific evidence on the waste related health effects is not conclusive, but suggests the possible occurrence of serious adverse effects, including mortality, cancer, reproductive health, and milder effects affecting wellbeing. The effects of improper disposal of this ewaste on the environment are little known. Ewaste exposure is a complex process because there are many routes and sources, different exposure time periods, and possible inhibitory, synergistic, or additive effects of chemicals grant et al. Warnings over childrens health as recycled ewaste comes back as plastic toys. Promising policy responses have arisen from the european union, which is defining the source as responsible for e waste. It is estimated that more than two thirds of heavy metals in landfills come from electronic waste. Right now there are strict waste guidelines enacted by certain countries, however we as a humane society need to address this issue globally. Who has recently launched the e waste and child health initiative aiming at protecting children and their families from detrimental health consequences due to e waste.
Considering the adverse potential ecotoxicological impacts and diverse health effects of ewaste, an urgent global multilateral agreement is needed addressing its management i. High doses of arsenic are lethal, while lower levels of exposure can cause detrimental damage to the nervous and respiratory systems as well as the skin and liver. Electronic devices consist of a large number of chemical elements and compounds. Summary quantification of health consequences 191 4. E waste is an important global environmental and health issue. Electronic waste an emerging threat to the environment. Study finds ewaste pollutants could harm human health. Electronic waste e waste has become a critical global environmental health issue due to the large and growing volume of e waste found in the market place and insufficient management policies in many countries ogunseitan et. The e waste has various toxic and carcinogenic gases, and heavy metals, which have grievous effects on the health of workers involved in the activity of recycling it unsafely and also populace of. Pdf on aug 1, 20, marie noelbrune and others published health effects of exposure to ewaste find, read and cite all the research you need on.
However, most are unaware of the harmful effects that improper ewaste handling has on their health. Unfortunately, these countries do not have the resources necessary to safely dispose of e waste so the lives of these laborers are being put at risk. Management of ewaste is a significant environmental health concern. But a new study links ewaste to harmful effects on human health. E waste can affect nearly every system in the human body because e waste contains a plethora of toxic components. The metals in e waste include steel iron, copper, aluminum, tin, pb, nickel, silver, gold, arsenic, cd, cr, indium, hg, ruthenium, selenium, vanadium. In india, ewaste management assumes greater significance not only due to the generation of its own ewaste but also because of the dumping of ewaste from developed.
Electronic waste or ewaste is one of the emerging problems in developed and developing countries worldwide. Electronic waste is what remains of our discarded mobile phones, computers, tablets and mp3 players. Electronic waste ewaste has emerged as a critical global environmental health issue because of its massive production volume and insufficient management policy in many countries ogunseitan et al. A great deal of attention has been given to the impact that ewaste has on human health, especially on the health of the informal recycling workers in india. It comprises of a multitude of components with valuable materials, some containing toxic substances, that can have an adverse impact on human health and the environment. We aimed to summarise the evidence relating to the possible association between exposure to e waste and health, and outcomes related to education and violence. Ewaste comprises of a multitude of components, some containing toxic substances that can have an adverse impact on human health and the environment if not handled properly. In developing countries, where most informal and primitive ewaste recycling occurs, workers and others who live near these recycling facilities are exposed to dangerous. Exposure to ewaste is a unique variable in itself and the exposures implicated should be considered as a whole. In india, e waste management assumes greater significance not only due to the generation of its own e waste but also because of the dumping of e waste from developed countries. The examples of shortterm health effects are respiratory infection, asthma and congenital anomalies.
Employers must provide a safe and healthy workplace. Effects on environment and human health petheeswari vetrivel, 1 and p. Impacts of ewaste on the environment eterra technologies. Brominated flame retardants bfrs have routinely been added to consumer products for several decades in a successful effort to reduce firerelated injury and.
Considering the adverse potential ecotoxicological impacts and diverse health effects of e waste, an urgent global multilateral agreement is needed addressing its management i. Primitive methods like burning or washing with hydrochloric acid are used in these regions to. The health effects from some types of hazardous waste may be temporary, with no link to other conditions having been determined. Pdf ewaste recycling environmental and health impacts. Exposure to e waste is a unique variable in itself and the exposures implicated should be considered as a whole. Exposure to e waste is a complex process in which many routes and sources of exposure, different lengths of exposure time, and possible inhibitory, synergistic, or additive effects of many chemical exposures are all important variables. Definitions vary but generally ewaste include items like computers, cell phones, copiers, tvs, and microwaves. Ewaste, or electronic waste, is waste from all sorts of electronics ranging from computers and mobile phones, to household electronics such as food processors, pressure, cookers etc.
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