Environmental and Health Consequences of E-Waste Dumping and Recycling Carried out by Selected Countries in Asia and Latin America

The volume of e-waste generated worldwide is surging, and it is set to escalate further due to continuing technological innovation and the early obsolescence of most electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). Even though there are many studies on e-waste management, the environmental and health consequences of e-waste regarding direct exposure during informal recycling and indirect exposure through environmental contamination are poorly studied. This study analyses the environmental and health consequences of e-waste dumping and informal recycling practices in selected countries such as Brazil, China, India, Mexico, and Pakistan. Several databases, such as Science Direct, ProQuest, Web of Science, and Emerald, were used to analyse studies from 2005 to 2022. Based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, 179 journal articles were evaluated. This study found that the majority of e-waste is poorly managed in terms of ecological safety and soundness. This study also found that illegal dumping, acid leaching, and open burning, which are practices that harm the environment and the well-being of e-waste workers, are still being performed by the selected countries. This study provides several practical suggestions for addressing the environmental and health consequences of e-waste dumping and recycling.

Automated summary

The global volume of e-waste is increasing rapidly due to technological innovation and obsolescence of electrical and electronic equipment. However, the environmental and health consequences of e-waste, particularly through informal recycling, have been poorly studied. This study examines the environmental and health impacts of e-waste dumping and informal recycling in selected countries and provides practical suggestions for addressing these issues.