Environmental Contamination from E-Waste Activities: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Introduction : The recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) contaminates ecosystems and people with a range of pollutants though to our knowledge the matter has yet to be reviewed through a systematic analysis.Methods : A systematic review process was adopted from the Office of Health Assessment and Translation from the U.S. National Toxicology Program.A full literature search on MEDLINE (PubMed) and Web of science was conducted using a priori key words and MeSH terms.The studies selected in this work are those dealing with heavy metals (Cd, Hg, As, Pb and Cr) in two media (soil and water). In total, 59 scientific papers that met the predefined criteria were identified and included in the review. Among others, the information was collected on the design, location of the study, type of heavy metal, and measurement. Until now a narrative synthesis has been conducted on all included studies with future plans to perform an analytical comparison.Results : In general, the literature provides information on the high contamination of soils, agricultural soils, surface water, river, well water, and drinking water by heavy metals. This contamination ranges from recycling sites to residential areas. More than 70% of the studies were conducted in Asia. Conversely, in the African region, only few, (<10%) studies have examined the problem of environmental contamination by heavy metals from e-waste, although several studies show that the problem is growing.Conclusion : Several studies have addressed the issue, but it is imperative to take a holistic approach of the growing e-waste issue.Key words : e-waste, heavy metals, soil, water, environment