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WEEE Treatment in Developing Countries: Environmental Pollution and Health Consequences—An Overview

Author

Listed:
  • Mentore Vaccari

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Giovanni Vinti

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy)

  • Alessandra Cesaro

    (Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy)

  • Vincenzo Belgiorno

    (Sanitary Environmental Engineering Division (SEED), Department of Civil Engineering, University of Salerno, via Giovanni Paolo II, 84084 Fisciano (SA), Italy)

  • Stefan Salhofer

    (Waste Management Institute, BOKU University, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

  • Maria Isabel Dias

    (Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares—C2TN, Campus Tecnológico e Nuclear, Polo de Loures, Instituto Superior Técnico, Estrada Nacional 10, km 139.7, 2696-066 Loures, Portugal)

  • Aleksander Jandric

    (Waste Management Institute, BOKU University, 1190 Vienna, Austria)

Abstract

In the last few decades, the rapid technological evolution has led to a growing generation of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE). Not rarely, it has been exported from industrialized to developing countries, where it represents a secondary source of valuable materials such as gold, copper, and silver. The recycling of WEEE is often carried out without any environmental and health protection. This paper reviews recent literature dealing with the informal treatment of WEEE in developing regions, gathering and analyzing data on concentration of both inorganic and organic pollutants in the environment. Open burning practices are revealed as most polluting ‘technology’, followed by mechanical treatment and leaching. Significant levels of pollutants have been detected in human bodies, both children and adults, working in or living in areas with informal WEEE treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Mentore Vaccari & Giovanni Vinti & Alessandra Cesaro & Vincenzo Belgiorno & Stefan Salhofer & Maria Isabel Dias & Aleksander Jandric, 2019. "WEEE Treatment in Developing Countries: Environmental Pollution and Health Consequences—An Overview," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-21, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1595-:d:228784
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cucchiella, Federica & D’Adamo, Idiano & Lenny Koh, S.C. & Rosa, Paolo, 2015. "Recycling of WEEEs: An economic assessment of present and future e-waste streams," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 263-272.
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    Cited by:

    1. Kun Wang & Junxi Qian & Lixiong Liu, 2020. "Understanding Environmental Pollutions of Informal E-Waste Clustering in Global South via Multi-Scalar Regulatory Frameworks: A Case Study of Guiyu Town, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-18, April.
    2. Giovanni Vinti & Mentore Vaccari, 2022. "Solid Waste Management in Rural Communities of Developing Countries: An Overview of Challenges and Opportunities," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 4(4), pages 1-14, November.
    3. Xiao-Shan Yang & Xiao-Xue Zheng & Tian-Yu Zhang & Ying Du & Fengru Long, 2021. "Waste Electrical and Electronic Fund Policy: Current Status and Evaluation of Implementation in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-27, December.

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