Exposure and risk posed by e-waste

Ever wondered what happens to that old computer, TV, printer, phone, etc. otherwise known as e-waste that you recycle? According to estimates, unfortunately, 75% of the e-waste is recycled in the unregulated informal sector resulting in significant risk for exposure to toxic contaminants to recyclers. There are a few of these informal recycling places in Ghana, where end-of-life electronic equipment is dismantled to recover the printed circuit board. The remnants are then burnt in open fires or home-made smokestacks to recover valuable metals such as copper. I’ve been working in collaboration with researchers from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana on the impact of e-waste recycling in Ghana. Over 1000 people currently work on e-waste and scrap metals recycling at Dagomba Line, Kumasi, one of our study sites (see photo). Activities at the site include the open burning of e-waste, tires, etc. which can potentially introduce toxic metals into the surrounding environment and impact the recyclers and nearby residents. We assessed metal concentrations and their bioavailability in soils, water, and sediments at Dagomba Line. Elevated concentrations of toxic metals including arsenic, antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc were detected in most of the samples collected in the vicinities of the e-waste recycling areas and the human health risk assessment indicated high risk of exposure. The development of a strategy for effectively communicating the identified risks and recommendations for limiting exposure to metal contaminants is ongoing. I had the opportunity to present these results and chair a session on “Exposure and Risk Posed by E-Waste” at the recent Fifth World Congress of the Society for Risk Analysis which was held jointly with the SETAC Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. I spent some time sampling the local cuisine along with taking in the sights and sounds of Cape Town including sunset at the V&A Waterfront.