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SPECIAL REPORT
Abstract
Electronic waste (e-waste) generation is increasing worldwide, and its management becomes a significant challenge because of the many toxicants present in electronic devices. The U.S. is a major producer of e-waste, although its management practice and policy regulation are not sufficient to meet the challenge. We reviewed e-waste generation, current management practices and trends, policy challenges, potential health impact, and toxicant exposure prevention in the U.S. A large amount of toxic metals, flame retardants, and other persistent organic pollutants exist in e-waste or can be released from the disposal of e-waste (e.g., landfill, incineration, recycling). Landfill is still a major method used to dispose of obsolete electronic devices, and only about half of the states have initiated a landfill ban for e-waste. Recycling of e-waste is an increasing trend in the past few years. There is potential, however, for workers to be exposed to a mixture of toxicants in e-waste and these exposures should be curtailed. Perspectives and recommendations are provided regarding managing e-waste in the U.S. to protect public health, including enacting federal legislation, discontinuing landfill disposal, protecting workers in recycling facilities from toxicant exposure, reducing toxicant release into the environment, and raising awareness of this growing environmental health issue among the public.
Introduction
Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to obsolete electronic devices for disposal, including TVs, desktop and laptop computers, mobile computers (notebooks, netbooks, tablets, e-book readers), cellular phones, printers, copiers, video players, telephones, and information and communications technology (ICT) equipment (United Nations Environment Programme, 2009). According to the latest estimate from Solving the E-waste Problem (StEP) Initiative, the annual global production of e-waste reached 48.9 million metric tons in 2012, and will be 65.4 million metric tons in 2017 (StEP, 2014).
A significant proportion (~23%) of e-waste generated in developed countries is exported to developing countries for recycling, predominantly by informal sectors that are not regulated, lack occupational and environmental pollution control, and cause widely spread environmental contaminations (Breivik, Armitage, Wania, & Jones, 2014; LaDou & Lovegrove, 2008; Sthiannopkao & Wong, 2013). These informal sectors often use convenient locations, such as residential homes, public roads, and river sides, to recycle e-waste with simple handheld tools and methods (e.g., cutting, hammering, heat melting, acid washing, and burning). Workers involved...