As technological advancements lead to increased consumption and turnover of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), the resultant electronic waste (e-waste) as the products reach their end-of-life has become a critical issue. These products include those with a battery or power supply, including but not limited to TVs, computers, phones, coffeemakers, printers, electric toothbrushes, and microwave ovens. Annually, the world generates tens of millions of tons of e-waste, of which approximately 80% from developed countries is improperly recycled (Ngo et al., 2021). The generation of e-waste is estimated to continue to increase with the reduction of durable goods and decreased lifespan of devices (WHO, 2021). Improper disposal and recycling practices pose a significant environmental and health challenge, exposing people worldwide to hazardous substances with lasting health implications, especially for children (Parvez et al., 2021).
Low- and middle-income countries often serve as the final resting places for discarded electronics due to decreased labor costs, poorly enforced laws, or inadequate regulations and recycling facilities (Ngo et al., 2021). In these nations, informal processing sectors often manually dismantle e-waste, usually without personal protective equipment, releasing toxic substances that contaminate ecosystems and endanger health (Ngo et al., 2021). E-waste contains a myriad of toxic substances, including, but not limited to, lead, mercury, cadmium, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and brominated flame retardants, which pose significant health risks (Parvez et al., 2021; WHO, 2021). Pregnant women and children working in or living near e-waste sites may be exposed through inhalation, ingestion, and even dermal absorption through contact with contaminated air, water, dust, soil, and food (Ngo et al., 2021; WHO, 2021). According to the WHO, around 73 million children work in hazardous labor, with unknown numbers working in the informal waste recycling sector (WHO, 2021).
Children are inherently more vulnerable to the toxicants in e-waste, as their development and natural behaviors (i.e., hand-to-mouth behaviors) increase their exposure risk to harmful chemicals (Heacock et al., 2016). Fetuses can also be exposed transplacentally, and children can be exposed through the ingestion of breast milk (Parvez et al., 2021; WHO, 2021). Recent studies and reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) and other research bodies highlight the escalating issue of e-waste and its adverse effects on child health, emphasizing the need for global action (WHO, 2021). Health risks include neurological impairments, respiratory problems, skin disorders, endocrine disruption, and increased chronic disease risk later in life, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease (Parvez et al., 2021). Exposure to substances like lead and chromium is associated with adverse birth outcomes and respiratory effects, including cough, wheezing, asthma, and DNA damage, with lead being well-known for its effects on neurodevelopment and behavior (Parvez et al., 2021; WHO, 2021). Injuries from manual dismantling or repair of e-waste can also occur, such as cuts, puncture wounds, burns, and sprains (WHO, 2021).
As electronic consumption and turnover increase, greater awareness regarding e-waste and the potential health risks for children and pregnant and lactating women is necessary. The growing global concern regarding the health effects on children demands immediate action globally and nationally. Efforts should be made towards more sustainable consumption to reduce e-waste, ensure the safety of e-waste workers and their environments, develop surveillance of health targets and action points to protect e-waste workers and children, and create global and national policies aimed at proper disposal and recycling (WHO, 2023).
References
Heacock, M., Kelly, C. B., Asante, K. A., Birnbaum, L. S., Bergman, Å. L., Bruné, M. N., … & Suk, W. A. (2016). E-waste and harm to vulnerable populations: a growing global problem. Environmental health perspectives, 124(5), 550-555. https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1509699
Ngo, H. T. T., Watchalayann, P., Nguyen, D. B., Doan, H. N., & Liang, L. (2021). Environmental health risk assessment of heavy metal exposure among children living in an informal e-waste processing village in Vietnam. Science of The Total Environment, 763, 142982. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00263-1
Parvez, S. M., Jahan, F., Brune, M. N., Gorman, J. F., Rahman, M. J., Carpenter, D., … & Sly, P. D. (2021). Health consequences of exposure to e-waste: an updated systematic review. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(12), e905-e920. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00263-1
World Health Organization. (2021). Children and digital dumpsites: e-waste exposure and child health. Retrieved from https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/341718/9789240023901-eng.pdf?sequence=1
World Health Organization. (2023). Electronic waste (e-waste). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/electronic-waste-(e-waste)
Author: Angelica Sanchez, MPH, MD Candidate 2024, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine
This blog post was supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and funded (in part) by a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (CDC/ATSDR). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) supports the PEHSUs by providing partial funding to CDC/ATSDR through an Inter-Agency Agreement. The findings and conclusions presented have not been formally disseminated by CDC/ATSDR or EPA and should not be construed to represent any agency determination or policy. Use of trade names that may be mentioned is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the CDC/ATSDR or EPA.
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