Video from group n°41

Welcome to the webpage of group 41

The topic we have decided to explore is the following :

E-waste is one of the major problem faced by society, The weight of e-waste reached a record in the world in 2014 by 41.8 million tonnes. and it has a direct impact on the society.

In this video we are trying to introduce you the definition, causes, consequences, perspective and giving some suggestions in order to resolve and prevent this growing problem.

Our paper

E-Waste :

In our video we have illustrated the origin as well as dangerous extent of electronic waste. It has become clear that e-waste is a global problem, which poses a serious threat to our ecosystem. As explained by our e-waste experts, a big part of the technological waste gets shipped to other continents, such as Africa or Asia. In this paper we would like to extend the information provided in our video and elaborate in more detail on the topics of the health issues as well as existing approaches to solve this issue. Impact of E-waste on human health Emerging countries with rapidly developing economies process e-waste from developed countries, as well as from their internal consumers. It is for instance estimated that around 70 % of the e-waste which gets processed in India is imported from other countries. In those so called developing countries technological products are then handled in informal- recycling markets, often processing and dismantling the toxic products in a fairly professional manner. This often results in open air burning, without any risk or health measurements. As e-waste contains thousands of components, made of potentially harmful chemicals such as lead, cadmium or chromium, those informal recycling practices trigger significant health risks. Multiple studies revealed that a long term exposure to these chemicals affects the nervous systems, bones, kidneys as well as the reproductive system. More precisely, a study conducted in Guiyu, a Chinese city which is known as the largest e-waste recycling center in the world, revealed that the city´s inhabitants are opposed to substantial “digestive, neurological, respiratory and bone problems”1. The long term impact on the local communities becomes evident if you consider the fact that around 80 % of Guiyu´s children experience respiratory ailments and are especially at risk of lead poisoning. All in all, local communities are exposed to these risks by the contaminated air, water and soil which significantly impacts current as well as upcoming generations.

E-waste policies :

It becomes clear that a systematic approach as well as effective environmental regulations in e-waste managements are necessary to prevent a hazardous exposure to the chemical toxicants. But what has actually been done? It was first of all necessary, that developed as well as developing countries acknowledge the shared responsibility in this issue. This resulted in the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary movements of hazardous wastes, as well as their disposal bans between developed and developing countries. However, the significance of this agreement is not too high. The United States, the largest generator of e-waste, was the only industrialized nation that did not ratify the Basel Convention. In addition to interstate policies, there are also multiple NGOS or smaller initiatives that try to solve this issue. One of those is Step, a collaborative, global imitative which tries to act as a center for global thinking, knowledge and awareness, as well as innovation in the management and development of more sustainable e-waste practices. They try to achieve this by providing a scientific basis, from which awareness, as well as dialogues and cooperation are made possible. In addition, Step cooperates with external partners within the technology industry. By focusing on an improved product design, repair and refurbishment, more effective e-waste prevention as well as management policies should be developed. All in all, E-waste is a global and health threatening problem. Despite several improvements, there is still a long road ahead until the danger of e-waste is confined.

References :

1. Anna O.W. Leung et al., "Heavy Metals Concentrations of Surface Dust From E-Waste Recycling and its Human Health Implications in Southeast China," Environmental Science and Technology 42, no. 7 (2008): 2674-80.

2. Cohen, “ 5 steps to greener e-waste”, available at: https://powermore.dell.com/business/5-steps-to-greener-disposal-of-e-waste/

3. Kunar & Shain: “E-waste: Health Impacts in Developing Countries” , available at: http://ehsjournal.org/http:/ehsjournal.org/shashi-n-kumar-and-arun-kumar-jain/e-waste-health-impacts-in-developing-countries/2014/

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