Impact of E-Waste Toxicity on Health and Nature: Trends, Biases, and Future Directions

Silva, J.; Lima, Gabriela Gomes; Cotrim, Carlos Filipe Camilo; Bailão, Elisa Flávia Luiz Cardoso; Caramori, Samantha Salomão; Nabout, João Carlos; Almeida, Luciane Madureira

doi:10.1007/s11270-023-06328-2

Cited by 7 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Toxic heavy metals and organic contaminants leaching from DPCBs into water, air or landfills trigger the formation of micronuclei and chromosomal anomalies, leading to genetic instability in individuals exposed to these pollutants. These effects have been well-documented in previous studies [132,133]. Once these hazardous substances enter the human body, they distribute themselves within various tissues and organs, undergoing intricate metabolic processes that can impact a range of physiological functions.…”

Section: Environmental and Health Effects Of Some Toxic Substances Pr...mentioning

confidence: 73%

Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications

Oke,

Potgieter

2024

J Mater Cycles Waste Manag

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The improper disposal of discarded electronic and electrical equipment raises environmental and health concerns, spanning air pollution to water and soil contamination, underscoring the imperative for responsible management practises. This review explores the complex composition of discarded printed circuit boards (DPCBs), crucial components in electronic devices. Comprising substrates, electronic elements and solder, DPCBs showcase a heterogeneous structure with metal (30.0–50.0%) and non-metal (50.0–70.0%) fractions. Notably abundant in precious metals such as Au, Ag, and Pd, DPCBs offer a compelling avenue for recycling initiatives. The inclusion of heavy metals and flame retardants adds complexity, necessitating environmentally sound disposal methods. Ongoing research on smart disassembly, utilising 3D image recognition technology, underscores the importance of accurate identification and positioning of electronic components (ECs). The targeted approach of smart disassembly, centred on valuable components, highlights its significance, albeit with challenges in equipment costs and capacity limitations. In mechanical disassembly, techniques such as grinding and heat application are employed to extract ECs, with innovations addressing gas emissions and damage induced by overheating. Chemical disassembly methods, encompassing epoxy resin delamination and tin removal, present promising recovery options, whilst the integration of chemical and electrochemical processes shows potential. Efficient sorting, encompassing both manual and automated methods, is imperative post-disassembly, with smart sorting technologies augmenting accuracy in the identification and categorisation of ECs. In addition, explorations into NH3/NH4+ solutions for selective metal recovery underscore challenges and stress the necessity for meticulous process optimisation in environmentally sustainable PCB recycling. Challenges and future perspectives have also been expounded.

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Section: Environmental and Health Effects Of Some Toxic Substances Pr...mentioning

confidence: 73%

Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications

Oke,

Potgieter

2024

J Mater Cycles Waste Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…3 RSCC-resource scarcity and cost concerns. 4 CA-competitive advantage. 5 IEG-innovation and efficiency gains.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They conclude that studies are crucial for promoting renewable energy adoption across the telecom industry. Furthermore, Silva et al [4] found that e-waste from obsolete telecom gear and consumer electronics will grow massively in the coming years, yet recycling rates remain low. Additional research is called for to devise solutions that enable global e-waste reduction and management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustainable Development Adoption in the High-Tech Sector: A Focus on Ecosystem Players and Their Influence

Lee,

Dervishi,

Mousa

et al. 2023

Sustainability

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In an era marked by increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, the telecommunications industry faces a pressing need to examine its commitment to sustainable development practices. Therefore, this study investigated the drivers and constraints influencing the adoption of such practices within the industry, with particular emphasis on the roles and interactions of ecosystem players. The research employed structural equation modeling (SEM) in AMOS to test the hypotheses and multilayer perceptron (MLP), which is an artificial neural network model, to assess the importance of each variable in the context of sustainable development adoption (SDA). This study analyzed data obtained from a diverse sample of telecommunications professionals, including telecom operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, and content and service providers. The findings reveal that stakeholder expectations held the highest normalized importance, suggesting their paramount influence in driving sustainable practices within the industry. Competitive advantage emerged as the second most significant factor, contributing to the adoption of sustainable strategies by companies. Conversely, cost and ROI concerns presented a constraint that potentially hindered SDA. This research contributes to the comprehensive understanding of sustainable development in the high-tech sector, aiding industry practitioners and policymakers in fostering a more sustainable future for the telecommunications industry. The implications derived from the sensitivity analysis provide valuable insights into prioritizing efforts and resources to enhance sustainable development adoption in the telecommunications sector.

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Green Fabrication of Stackable Laser‐Induced Graphene Micro‐Supercapacitors under Ambient Conditions: Toward the Design of Truly Sustainable Technological Platforms

Silvestre,

Morais,

Soares

et al. 2024

Adv Materials Technologies

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Extensive research into green technologies is driven by the worldwide push for eco‐friendly materials and energy solutions. The focus is on synergies that prioritize sustainability and environmental benefits. This study explores the potential of abundant, non‐toxic, and sustainable resources such as paper, lignin‐enriched paper, and cork for producing laser‐induced graphene (LIG) supercapacitor electrodes with improved capacitance. A single‐step methodology using a CO2 laser system is developed for fabricating these electrodes under ambient conditions, providing an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional carbon sources. The resulting green micro‐supercapacitors (MSCs) achieve impressive areal capacitance (≈7–10 mF cm−2) and power and energy densities (≈4 μW cm‐2 and ≈0.77 µWh cm−2 at 0.01 mA cm−2). Stability tests conducted over 5000 charge–discharge cycles demonstrate a capacitance retention of ≈80–85%, highlighting the device durability. These LIG‐based devices offer versatility, allowing voltage output adjustment through stacked and sandwich MSCs configurations (parallel or series), suitable for various large‐scale applications. This study demonstrates that it is possible to create high‐quality energy storage devices based on biodegradable materials. This development can lead to progress in renewable energy and off‐grid technology, as well as a reduction in electronic waste.

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Impact of E-Waste Toxicity on Health and Nature: Trends, Biases, and Future Directions

Cited by 7 publications

References 65 publications

Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications

Discarded e-waste/printed circuit boards: a review of their recent methods of disassembly, sorting and environmental implications

Sustainable Development Adoption in the High-Tech Sector: A Focus on Ecosystem Players and Their Influence

Green Fabrication of Stackable Laser‐Induced Graphene Micro‐Supercapacitors under Ambient Conditions: Toward the Design of Truly Sustainable Technological Platforms

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