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• Large equipment. These are large home and office
equipment such as washing machines, electric stoves,
large printing machines, copying equipment and
photovoltaic panels.
• Small equipment. Typical equipment comprises
vacuum cleaners, microwaves, ventilation equipment,
toasters, electric kettles, electric shavers, scales,
calculators, radio sets, video cameras, electrical and
electronic toys, small electrical and electronic tools,
small medical devices, small monitoring and control
instruments.
• Small IT and telecommunication equipment. This
category includes mobile phones, GPS, pocket
calculators, routers, personal computers, printers,
telephones.
(Source: The Global E-Waste Monitor 2014, United Nations
University, IAS – SCYCLE, Bonn, Germany)
THREATS FROM E-WASTE
In recent times, policymakers, producers and recyclers in
various countries have created specialised ‘take-back and
treatment’ systems to collect e-waste from owners and
process it in proper treatment facilities. However, these
efforts in the collection and state-of-the-art treatment
of e-waste is limited, and most nations are still without
such e-waste management systems. There remains a
significant portion of e-waste that is not being collected
and treated in an environmentally-sound manner.
E-waste contains valuable materials, and this draws
individuals or groups of collectors to collect e-waste and
extract valuable substances, components or parts and sell
them to the recycling industry. What is of concern is that
the treatment process of e-waste is hazardous to human
health and the environment. Moreover, those who handle
e-waste informally are usually neither well aware of
nor trained in environmentally sound management of
e-waste, occupational safety and health (OSH), and other
decent work standards applicable to this field.
Further, some of the world’s e-waste is shipped
over great distances to developing countries where
rudimentary and inefficient techniques are often used
to extract materials and components or parts. These
‘backyard’ techniques pose dangers to ill protected
workers and the local natural environment. World-wide
trading of electronics and substandard recycling in
developing countries has led to environmental disasters
in places like Guiyu, China and Agbogbloshie, and Ghana.
Source: 1. The global impact of e-waste: addressing the challenge / Karin Lundgren; International Labour Office, Programme on Safety
and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork), Sectoral Activities Department (SECTOR). – Geneva: ILO, 2012
2. Grant K et al. Health consequences of exposure to e-waste: a systematic review on health effects of e.waste. The Lancet.
Table 1: Chemicals of primary concern in e-waste
Elements Component Of Electrical And
Electronic Equipment
Ecological
Source Of
Exposure
Health Concerns
Cadmium
Switches, springs, connectors, printed
circuit boards, batteries, infrared
detectors, semi-conductor chips,
ink or toner photocopying machines,
cathode ray tubes, and mobile phones
Air, dust, soil,
water, and food.
(especially rice
and vegetables)
Has toxic, irreversible effects on human health and accumulates in
kidney and liver (op. cit.). Has toxic effects on the kidney, the skeletal
system and the respiratory system, and is classified as a human
carcinogen (WHO, 2010c).
Chromium
or hexavalent
chromium
Anticorrosion coatings, data tapes,
and floppy disks
Air, dust, water,
and soil.
Damages kidneys, the liver and DNA. Asthmatic bronchitis has been
linked to this substance (Osuagwu & Ikerionwu, 2010).
Causes irritation of the respiratory system (asthma) and skin, liver
and kidney damage, increased or reduced blood leukocytes,
eosinophilia, eye injury, and is a known carcinogen (lung cancer).
Lead
Printed circuit boards, cathode
ray tubes, light bulbs, televisions
(1·5–2·0 kg per monitor), and
batteries.
Air, dust, water,
and soil.
Causes damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood
systems and kidneys, and affects the brain development of children
(Osuagwu & Ikerionwu, 2010).
A cumulative toxicant that affects multiple body systems, including
the neurological, haematological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and
renal systems (WHO, 2010e).
Lithium
Batteries
Air, soil, water,
and food
(plants)
Extremely hazardous in case of ingestion as it passes through the
placenta. It is hazardous and an irritant of the skin and eye, and
when inhaled.
Lithium can be excreted in maternal milk (Material Safety Data
Sheet,2005)
Mercury
Thermostats, sensors, monitors,
cells, printed circuit boards, and
cold cathode fluorescent lamps
(1–2 g per device)
Air, vapour,
water, soil,
and food (bio
accumulative
in fish)
Elemental and methyl-mercury are toxic to the central and peripheral
nervous system. Inhalation of mercury vapour can produce harmful
effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and
kidneys, and may be fatal. The inorganic salts of mercury are
corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce
kidney toxicity if ingested (WHO, 2007)
Nickel
Batteries
Air, soil, water,
and food
(plants)
Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact, ingestion and inhalation.
May be toxic to kidneys, lungs, liver and upper respiratory tract. Also
have carcinogenic effects. (Material Safety Data Sheet, 2005)
Zinc
Cathode ray tubes, and metal
coatings.
Air, water, and
soil
Contact with eyes can cause irritation; powdered zinc is highly
flammable (University of Oxford, 2005); if inhaled, causes a cough,
and if ingested, abnominal pain, diarrhoea and vomiting is common
(ICSC database, nd.)
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