Environ Anal Health Toxicol.
2023 Mar;38(1):e2023001. 10.5620/eaht.2023001.
Mitigating potential public health risks and challenges from hazardous materials contained in electronic waste items in a developing country setting
- Affiliations
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- 1Institute for Development Studies, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- 2Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- 3Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
- 4Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State,, Nigeria
- 5Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- 6Department of Architecture, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- 7Department of Estate Management, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- 8Institute for Development Studies, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- 9Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State,, Nigeria
- 10Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
- KMID: 2541672
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.5620/eaht.2023001
Abstract
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Targets 12.4 and 3.9 aim to reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and to achieve environmentally friendly management of chemical and wastes. Electronic wastes, which contain hazardous chemicals, are rapidly generated in poor countries due to demand for affordable near-end-of-life internet-enabled gadgets that soon wear out and are improperly disposed due to ignorance, throw-away mentality and dearth of waste management infrastructure. This study identified hazardous chemicals contained in significant quantities in e-waste items, described their public health challenges and suggested mitigation measures. Results showed that mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cadmium, lead and beryllium oxide were hazardous chemicals contained in significant quantities in e-waste items. The study recommended the formulation of appropriate environmental health education technology policy (AEHETP) to guide stakeholders to design education, preventive, therapeutic and decontamination plans for awareness creation and raising to address the toxic effects of e-waste items on users in poor countries.
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