Activities per year
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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1733-1767 |
Number of pages | 35 |
Journal | Pure and Applied Chemistry |
Volume | 92 |
Issue number | 11 |
Early online date | 19 Aug 2020 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2020 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- chemical composition
- e-waste
- ecological assessment
- environmental impacts
- recycling
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Dive into the research topics of 'Global occurrence, chemical properties, and ecological impacts of e-wastes (IUPAC technical report)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Activities
- 1 Work for advisory/policy/evaluation group or panel (public/government/UN/EU)
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IUPAC (External organisation)
Benjamin Wilson (Member)
13 Jul 2016 → …Activity: Memberships (typically long-term positions of trust) › Work for advisory/policy/evaluation group or panel (public/government/UN/EU)