Global occurrence, chemical properties, and ecological impacts of e-wastes (IUPAC technical report)
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A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
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Date
2020-11-01
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Language
en
Pages
35
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Pure and Applied Chemistry, Volume 92, issue 11, pp. 1733-1767
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.Description
Keywords
chemical composition, e-waste, ecological assessment, environmental impacts, recycling
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Citation
Purchase, D, Abbasi, G, Bisschop, L, Chatterjee, D, Ekberg, C, Ermolin, M, Fedotov, P, Garelick, H, Isimekhai, K, Kandile, N G, Lundström, M, Matharu, A, Miller, B W, Pineda, A, Popoola, O E, Retegan, T, Ruedel, H, Serpe, A, Sheva, Y, Surati, K R, Walsh, F, Wilson, B P & Wong, M H 2020, ' Global occurrence, chemical properties, and ecological impacts of e-wastes (IUPAC technical report) ', Pure and Applied Chemistry, vol. 92, no. 11, pp. 1733-1767 . https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2019-0502