Public Health Burden of E-waste in Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Environmental impacts from informal e-waste recycling are increasing in Africa. E-waste handling and disposal exposes people to highly toxic cocktails of heavy metals, brominated flame retardants, non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PBDF) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCB). Most of these compounds are endocrine disrupters, and most are neuro- and immune-toxic as well.

Objectives

Informal e-waste recycling in African countries is a serious public health threat. The present paper reviews the extent of e-waste exposure in Africa and related impacts on people, animals and the environment.

Methods

Four electronic databases

SUBMITTER: Orisakwe OE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6555250 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature