Mitigating potential public health risks and challenges from hazardous materials contained in electronic waste items in a developing country setting

Eneh, Onyenekenwa C.; Eneh, Chinemelum A.; Eneonwo, Cosmas I.; Okosun, Andy; Emenuga, Vera; Obi, Nicholas I.; Egbenta, Idu R.; Oloto, Martin C.; Ubani, Obinna; Akah, Peter A.

doi:2023.38.1.e2023001

Environ Anal Health Toxicol > Volume 38:2023 > Article

Original Article

Published online February 20, 2023

Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology 2023;38(1):e2023001-0. doi: https://doi.org/10.5620/eaht.2023001

Mitigating potential public health risks and challenges from hazardous materials contained in electronic waste items in a developing country setting

Onyenekenwa C. Eneh¹

, Chinemelum A. Eneh²

, Cosmas I. Eneonwo³

, Andy Okosun⁴, Vera Emenuga⁵, Nicholas I. Obi⁶, Idu R. Egbenta⁷, Martin C. Oloto⁸, Obinna Ubani⁹, Peter A. Akah¹⁰

¹Institute for Development Studies, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
²Department of Agricultural Economics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
³Institute for Transport and Logistics Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
⁴Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State,, Nigeria
⁵Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
⁶Department of Architecture, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
⁷Department of Estate Management, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
⁸Institute for Development Studies, Enugu Campus, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria
⁹Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State,, Nigeria
¹⁰Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Corresponding Author: Onyenekenwa C. Eneh ,Email: onyenekenwa.eneh@unn.edu.ng

Received: October 17, 2022; Accepted: January 25, 2023.

ABSTRACT

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Targets 12.4 and 3.9 aim to reduce deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and to achieve environmentally friendly management of chemical and wastes. Electronic wastes, which contain hazardous chemicals, are rapidly generated in poor countries due to demand for affordable near-end-of-life internet-enabled gadgets that soon wear out and are improperly disposed due to ignorance, throw-away mentality and dearth of waste management infrastructure. This study identified hazardous chemicals contained in significant quantities in e-waste items, described their public health challenges and suggested mitigation measures. Results showed that mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), cadmium, lead and beryllium oxide were hazardous chemicals contained in significant quantities in e-waste items. The study recommended the formulation of appropriate environmental health education technology policy (AEHETP) to guide stakeholders to design education, preventive, therapeutic and decontamination plans for awareness creation and raising to address the toxic effects of e-waste items on users in poor countries.

Keywords: Appropriate environmental health education technology, Hazardous chemicals, Electronic waste, Poor countries