E-waste, a Global Challenge: Its Management and Impact on Public Health in India

Abstract

Electronic waste or e-waste is a rapidly growing serious threat to the environment. The whole process of managing the e-waste which includes collection, transportation, storage, and recycling or treatment is yet to be well controlled. E-waste disposal has become an emerging issue for public health and the global environment. The convoluted chemicals produced during the e-waste recovery and hazardous by- products raise panic situations for the industry workers and labourers. Generally, the e-waste industry workers are untrained and belong to the informal sector. These people are generally not aware of the necessary precautionary actions to be taken before handling or recovering the e-waste. The inappropriate components, which can’t be reused, are either dumped or burnt outside openly. The toxic gases or hazardous chemicals pollute the environment or can be released directly into water sources. Thus, proper recycling of e-waste in a controlled way is very necessary and ecologically desirable. By promoting the reuse of non-degradable products their extraction rate can be minimized. A formalization of rules for e- waste management and their amendments can potentially offer benefits to this industry and the workers by reducing uncontrolled extraction and providing them employment security. This paper highlights the burden of e-waste, the impact of e-waste on health, the current status of e-waste management concerning the Moradabad region, initiatives for e-waste management including legislation, and current research aspects of e-waste management.