Environmental Heavy Metal Contamination from Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Recycling Activities Worldwide: A Systematic Review from 2005 to 2017

M. G. Karel Houessionon, Edgard-Marius D. Ouendo, Catherine Bouland, Sylvia A. Takyi, Nonvignon Marius Kedote, Benjamin Fayomi, Julius N. Fobil and Niladri Basu
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M. G. Karel Houessionon: Regional Institute of Public Health Comlan Alfred Quenum, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah 384, Benin
Edgard-Marius D. Ouendo: Regional Institute of Public Health Comlan Alfred Quenum, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah 384, Benin
Catherine Bouland: School of Public Health, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
Sylvia A. Takyi: School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra LG 13, Ghana
Nonvignon Marius Kedote: Regional Institute of Public Health Comlan Alfred Quenum, University of Abomey-Calavi, Ouidah 384, Benin
Benjamin Fayomi: Occupational Health and Environment Research Unit, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou 06 555, Benin
Julius N. Fobil: School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra LG 13, Ghana
Niladri Basu: Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: The recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) contaminates ecosystems with metals, though a compilation of data from across sites worldwide is lacking, without which evidence-based comparisons and conclusions cannot be realized. As such, here, a systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies concerning e-waste sites (published between 2005 and 2017) that reported on the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Hg, As, Pb and Cr) in soil, water and sediment. From 3063 papers identified, 59 studies from 11 countries meeting predefined criteria were included. Reported metal concentrations were summarized, and a narrative synthesis was performed. This review summarized 8286 measurements of the aforementioned metals in soils (5836), water (1347) and sediment (1103). More than 70% of the studies were conducted in Asia. In nearly all cases, the average metal concentrations in a particular medium from a given site were above guideline values; suggesting soils, water and sediment at, or near, e-waste recycling sites are contaminated. Across all media, concentrations of Pb were generally highest, followed by Cr, As, Cd and Hg. The synthesized information demonstrates that e-waste sites worldwide are contaminated with metals, that geographic data gaps exist, that the quality of most studies can be improved and that action is needed to help reduce such levels to protect human health and the environment.

Keywords: e-waste; heavy metals; soil; water; sediment; environment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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