Health consequences of exposure to e-waste: an updated systematic review

Abstract

Summary Electronic waste (e-waste) contains numerous chemicals harmful to human and ecological health. To update a 2013 review assessing adverse human health consequences of exposure to e-waste, we systematically reviewed studies reporting effects on humans related to e-waste exposure. We searched EMBASE, PsycNET, Web of Science, CINAHL, and PubMed for articles published between Dec 18, 2012, and Jan 28, 2020, restricting our search to publications in English. Of the 5645 records identified, we included 70 studies that met the preset criteria. People living in e-waste exposed regions had significantly elevated levels of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. Children and pregnant women were especially susceptible during the critical periods of exposure that detrimentally affect diverse biological systems and organs. Elevated toxic chemicals negatively impact on neonatal growth indices and hormone level alterations in e-waste exposed populations. We recorded possible connections between chronic exposure to e-waste and DNA lesions, telomere attrition, inhibited vaccine responsiveness, elevated oxidative stress, and altered immune function. The existence of various toxic chemicals in e-waste recycling areas impose plausible adverse health outcomes. Novel cost-effective methods for safe recycling operations need to be employed in e-waste sites to ensure the health and safety of vulnerable populations.

Pollution and health: a progress update

“…The total effects of pollution on health would undoubtedly be larger if more comprehensive health data could be generated, especially if all pathways for chemicals in the environment were identified and analysed. 5 The GBD 2019 data show that the effect of pollution on disease and disability varies by sex. Men are more likely to die from exposure to ambient air pollution, lead pollution, and occupational pollutants than women.…”

Health Risks Associated with Informal Electronic Waste Recycling in Africa: A Systematic Review

“…A data extraction form was adapted from Parvez et al (2021) [ 24 ] to collect the relevant information from each included study. We developed a standardized protocol to include the following study characteristics: name of author and year of publication, study design, location study was conducted, sample size, type of pollutant(s) assessed, health outcomes measured, and effect sizes of the association between the exposures and health outcomes.…”

“…E-waste exposure has been reported to be associated with adverse health outcomes such as DNA damage [ 19 ], decreased lung function [ 20 , 21 ], change in thyroid function, adverse neonatal outcomes, changes in temperament and behaviour [ 1 ], and a myriad of chronic disease risks, including cancer [ 22 , 23 ]. A recent systematic review update on the health consequences of e-waste exposure by Parvez et al (2021) [ 24 ] found 70 studies that concluded that “the existence of various toxic chemicals in e-waste recycling areas impose plausible adverse health outcomes”. Almost all these studies ( n = 66/70) were conducted in China, while only one study conducted by Burns et al (2016) [ 25 ] was focused on Africa (Ghana).…”

“…In addition, these previous reviews on the health consequences of e-waste exposure conceptualized the health outcomes as biological responses (e.g., disturbance in thyroid hormone, DNA damage, etc.) associated with chemical exposures without paying attention to physical and psychological outcomes (e.g., cuts, lacerations, and perceived stress) associated with the crude recycling methods mostly encountered by e-waste workers in Africa [ 1 , 24 ]. Grant et al [ 1 ] further concluded that there were limited studies on the effects of e-waste on health in developing countries in Africa.…”

Ecological Burden of e-Waste in Bangladesh—an Assessment to Measure the Exposure to e-Waste and Associated Health Outcomes: Protocol for a Cross-sectional Study

“…Secondary outcomes include the impacts of heavy metals on body function. In our recent published systematic review [ 34 ], we have identified the reported health consequences of e-waste exposure ( Table 1 ).…”