E-Waste in Africa: A Serious Threat to the Health of Children

Tamba S. Lebbie, Omosehin D. Moyebi, Kwadwo Ansong Asante, Julius Fobil, Marie Noel Brune-Drisse, William A. Suk, Peter D. Sly, Julia Gorman and David O. Carpenter
Additional contact information
Tamba S. Lebbie: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
Omosehin D. Moyebi: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
Kwadwo Ansong Asante: CSIR Water Research Institute, P.O. Box AH 38, Achimota, Accra, Ghana
Julius Fobil: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
Marie Noel Brune-Drisse: Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health, World Organization, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
William A. Suk: A World Health Organization Collaborating Center on Children’s Environmental Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
Peter D. Sly: A World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Children’s Health and the Environment, Child Health Research Center, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane 4101, Australia
Julia Gorman: Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia
David O. Carpenter: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 16, 1-25

Abstract: Waste electronic and electrical equipment (e-waste) consists of used and discarded electrical and electronic items ranging from refrigerators to cell phones and printed circuit boards. It is frequently moved from developed countries to developing countries where it is dismantled for valuable metals in informal settings, resulting in significant human exposure to toxic substances. E-waste is a major concern in Africa, with large sites in Ghana and Nigeria where imported e-waste is dismantled under unsafe conditions. However, as in many developing countries, used electronic and electrical devices are imported in large quantities because they are in great demand and are less expensive than new ones. Many of these used products are irreparable and are discarded with other solid waste to local landfills. These items are then often scavenged for the purpose of extracting valuable metals by heating and burning, incubating in acids and other methods. These activities pose significant health risks to workers and residents in communities near recycling sites. E-waste burning and dismantling activities are frequently undertaken at e-waste sites, often in or near homes. As a result, children and people living in the surrounding areas are exposed, even if they are not directly involved in the recycling. While toxic substances are dangerous to individuals at any age, children are more vulnerable as they are going through important developmental processes, and some adverse health impacts may have long-term impacts. We review the e-waste situation in Africa with a focus on threats to children’s health.

Keywords: e-waste; children; Africa; air pollution; cognitive function; development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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