Global occurrence, chemical properties, and ecological impacts of e-wastes (IUPAC technical report)

Diane Purchase

;Golnoush Abbasi;Lieselot Bisschop;Debashish Chatterjee;Christian Ekberg;Mikhail Ermolin;Petr Fedotov;Hemda Garelick;Khadijah Isimekhai;Nadia G. Kandile;Mari Lundström;Avtar Matharu;Bradley W. Miller;Antonio Pineda;Oluseun E. Popoola;Teodora Retegan;Heinz Ruedel;Angela Serpe;Yehuda Sheva;Kiran R. Surati;Fiona Walsh;Benjamin P. Wilson;Ming Hung Wong

2020-01-01

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Abstract

The waste stream of obsolete electronic equipment grows exponentially, creating a worldwide pollution and resource problem. Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) comprises a heterogeneous mix of glass, plastics (including flame retardants and other additives), metals (including rare Earth elements), and metalloids. The e-waste issue is complex and multi-faceted. In examining the different aspects of e-waste, informal recycling in developing countries has been identified as a primary concern, due to widespread illegal shipments; weak environmental, as well as health and safety, regulations; lack of technology; and inadequate waste treatment structure. For example, Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, and China have all been identified as hotspots for the disposal of e-waste. This article presents a critical examination on the chemical nature of e-waste and the resulting environmental impacts on, for example, microbial biodiversity, flora, and fauna in e-waste recycling sites around the world. It highlights the different types of risk assessment approaches required when evaluating the ecological impact of e-waste. Additionally, it presents examples of chemistry playing a role in potential solutions. The information presented here will be informative to relevant stakeholders seeking to devise integrated management strategies to tackle this global environmental concern.