Assessing Worker and Environmental Chemical Exposure Risks at an e-Waste Recycling and Disposal Site in Accra, Ghana

Caravanos, Jack; Clark, Edith; Fuller, Richard; Lambertson, Calah

doi:10.5696/jhp.v1i1.22

Cited by 116 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Some of these equipment end up in informal recycling sites where primitive recycling methods, such as the open burning of cables, fridge, and television casings, are performed, exposing the environment and entire communities to pollution [5]. Contamination of the environment due to uncontrolled e-waste recycling has been reported in Ghana and particularly Ghana’s largest e-waste recycling area Agbogbloshie [6-10]. The contamination of the environment is driven by increased quantities of electrical e-waste in Ghana, which have created avenues and opportunities for individuals to make a living by using unconventional, primitive, and crude recycling methods to recover precious and valuable metals from e-waste.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial assessment of soil contamination by heavy metals from informal electronic waste recycling in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Kyere

Greve

Atiemo

2016

Environ Health Toxicol

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ObjectivesThis study examined the spatial distribution and the extent of soil contamination by heavy metals resulting from primitive, unconventional informal electronic waste recycling in the Agbogbloshie e-waste processing site (AEPS) in Ghana.MethodsA total of 132 samples were collected at 100 m intervals, with a handheld global position system used in taking the location data of the soil sample points. Observing all procedural and quality assurance measures, the samples were analyzed for barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), using X-ray fluorescence. Using environmental risk indices of contamination factor and degree of contamination (Cdeg), we analyzed the individual contribution of each heavy metal contamination and the overall Cdeg. We further used geostatistical techniques of spatial autocorrelation and variability to examine spatial distribution and extent of heavy metal contamination.ResultsResults from soil analysis showed that heavy metal concentrations were significantly higher than the Canadian Environmental Protection Agency and Dutch environmental standards. In an increasing order, Pb>Cd>Hg>Cu>Zn>Cr>Co>Ba>Ni contributed significantly to the overall Cdeg. Contamination was highest in the main working areas of burning and dismantling sites, indicating the influence of recycling activities. Geostatistical analysis also revealed that heavy metal contamination spreads beyond the main working areas to residential, recreational, farming, and commercial areas.ConclusionsOur results show that the studied heavy metals are ubiquitous within AEPS and the significantly high concentration of these metals reflect the contamination factor and Cdeg, indicating soil contamination in AEPS with the nine heavy metals studied.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial assessment of soil contamination by heavy metals from informal electronic waste recycling in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Kyere

Greve

Atiemo

2016

Environ Health Toxicol

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“…In these countries recycling of e-waste is performed with limited and often no environmental or worker health precautions. Activities at these sites often pose harmful threats in the form of soil pollution leading to contaminated water and food as well as air contaminants affecting the health of the workers and children at these sites [5].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Concentration of Surface Dust Present in E-Waste Components: The Westminister Electronic Market, Lagos Case Study

Adaramodu¹,

Osuntogun²,

Ehi-Eromosele³

2012

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To evaluate the extent of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, Fe) contamination from e-waste, surface dust samples were collected from workshops (indoor), around the market areas (outdoor) and from a distance of about 100 metres away from the market area (control) of the Westminister Electronic market in Lagos, Nigeria. Aqua regia digestion was applied to the dust samples prior to determination of heavy metal by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). The AAS analysis revealed mean concentrations in indoor dust (Pb 22.50, Cd 1.80, Fe 108.00, Cr 0.35 and Zn 295.50 mg/kg), outdoor dust (Pb 15.90, Cd 19.00, Fe 103.3, Cr 0.10 and Zn 213.00 mg/kg) and control dust ( Pb 9.40, Cd -, Fe 62.00, Cr -and Zn 78.00 mg/kg). Although the result showed a relatively low contamination in general, it could be inferred that the increased concentration of heavy metals from the indoor electronic waste could be from the interaction of heavy metals in the e-waste components with the settled dust on them over time. Risk assessment predicted that Cd and Zn in the e-waste have the potential to pose serious health risks to workers, customers and local residents of Westminister area, especially children, and this underscores the urgent intervention by relevant government agencies.

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“…Over half of 100 soil samples collected from dumping and processing sites contained lead concentrations that exceeded USEPA lead standards [23]. In ash samples, concentrations of copper, zinc, lead, and tin were extremely high (up to 160,000 mg per kg of ash), and bromine, arsenic, and mercury concentrations were moderately high (up to 1500 mg per kg of ash) [27].…”

Section: Environmental Health Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Toward a More Sustainable Trajectory for E-Waste Policy: A Review of a Decade of E-Waste Research in Accra, Ghana

Daum

Stoler

Grant

2017

IJERPH

114

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Global flows of e-waste from the Global North to the Global South continue to damage local environments and harm human health. Weak e-waste regulations and limited use of safety measures for e-waste workers in Accra, Ghana, foster an exploitative environment within the industry, and pose health risks for those working and living near e-waste processing sites. This paper presents an integrated review of over 40 e-waste studies specific to Accra, with particular emphasis on the well-studied e-waste processing site in Agbogbloshie, and synthesizes the existing research base across interdisciplinary themes of human health, environmental health, globalization, trade and informalization, and public policy. Despite significant international attention to Accra’s e-waste problem, loopholes within international environmental regulations and treaties provide few incentives and resources for Ghana to strengthen protections for human and environmental health. After a decade of e-waste research in Accra, the crisis continues to intensify; we present a renewed vision for sustainable e-waste policy reform in Ghana and beyond.

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Assessing Worker and Environmental Chemical Exposure Risks at an e-Waste Recycling and Disposal Site in Accra, Ghana

Cited by 116 publications

References 7 publications

Spatial assessment of soil contamination by heavy metals from informal electronic waste recycling in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Spatial assessment of soil contamination by heavy metals from informal electronic waste recycling in Agbogbloshie, Ghana

Heavy Metal Concentration of Surface Dust Present in E-Waste Components: The Westminister Electronic Market, Lagos Case Study

Toward a More Sustainable Trajectory for E-Waste Policy: A Review of a Decade of E-Waste Research in Accra, Ghana

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