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and results in toxic exposures to the recyclers, especially to women and children.
Electronic-waste consists of valuable metals as well as environmental contaminants
especially polybrominated diphenyl ether and polychlorinated biphenyls. The
chemical composition of Electronic-waste changes with the innovation of new technologies and pressure from environmental organizations. As the reprocessing and
recycling technologies with minimal environmental impacts are found to be expensive, rich countries export unknown quantities of Electronic-waste to developing
countries, where recycling techniques including burning and dissolution in strong
acids result in localized contaminations of water and food chains. This chapter deals
with the generation of electronic-waste and its disposal pathways, and it especially
covers the various contaminants that affect human health as well as our
environment.
Keywords Industrialization · Electronic-waste · Sustainable development goals ·
Human health · Environment
11.1 Introduction
Due to rapid industrialization, industries have moved towards an environment with
the reduction of human power and an increase in usage of electrical as well as electronic equipment. The innovation of electrical and electronic products leads the way
to its usage in manufacturing and in another industrial sector. The development of
faster and reliable processing technologies such as mobile phones, computers, and
laptops drives consumer to use current and upgraded technology products with no
longer use of older products. This development, in turn, gives a tremendous increase
in the usage of electronic-waste products among consumers. Step Initiative (2014)
framed a definition for Electronic-waste as follows: “Electronic waste is a term used
to cover items of all types of electrical and electronic equipment and its part that
have been discarded by the owner as waste without the intention of re-use.”
It is considered as a fast-growing waste sector, which includes a large variety of
components that include toxic as well as resourceful products. In the field of information and communication technology due to rapid advancement, substitution, and
miniaturization, Electronic-waste increases day by day. Electronic-waste is also
referred to as waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Baldé et al. (2015) categorized electrical and electronic equipment into six types;
they are as follows:
• Temperature exchange equipment – referred to as cooling and freezing equipment. The equipment such as refrigerators, air conditioner, heat pump, and freezers will come under this category.
• Screens and monitors – monitors, laptops, tablets, and television.
• Lamps – light-emitting diode lamps, fluorescent lamps, and discharge lamps.
• Large equipment – washing machine, cloth dryers, electric stoves, photovoltaic
panels, printing, and copying equipment.
K. Grace Pavithra et al.
and results in toxic exposures to the recyclers, especially to women and children.
Electronic-waste consists of valuable metals as well as environmental contaminants
especially polybrominated diphenyl ether and polychlorinated biphenyls. The
chemical composition of Electronic-waste changes with the innovation of new technologies and pressure from environmental organizations. As the reprocessing and
recycling technologies with minimal environmental impacts are found to be expensive, rich countries export unknown quantities of Electronic-waste to developing
countries, where recycling techniques including burning and dissolution in strong
acids result in localized contaminations of water and food chains. This chapter deals
with the generation of electronic-waste and its disposal pathways, and it especially
covers the various contaminants that affect human health as well as our
environment.
Keywords Industrialization · Electronic-waste · Sustainable development goals ·
Human health · Environment
11.1 Introduction
Due to rapid industrialization, industries have moved towards an environment with
the reduction of human power and an increase in usage of electrical as well as electronic equipment. The innovation of electrical and electronic products leads the way
to its usage in manufacturing and in another industrial sector. The development of
faster and reliable processing technologies such as mobile phones, computers, and
laptops drives consumer to use current and upgraded technology products with no
longer use of older products. This development, in turn, gives a tremendous increase
in the usage of electronic-waste products among consumers. Step Initiative (2014)
framed a definition for Electronic-waste as follows: “Electronic waste is a term used
to cover items of all types of electrical and electronic equipment and its part that
have been discarded by the owner as waste without the intention of re-use.”
It is considered as a fast-growing waste sector, which includes a large variety of
components that include toxic as well as resourceful products. In the field of information and communication technology due to rapid advancement, substitution, and
miniaturization, Electronic-waste increases day by day. Electronic-waste is also
referred to as waste electrical and electronic equipment.
Baldé et al. (2015) categorized electrical and electronic equipment into six types;
they are as follows:
• Temperature exchange equipment – referred to as cooling and freezing equipment. The equipment such as refrigerators, air conditioner, heat pump, and freezers will come under this category.
• Screens and monitors – monitors, laptops, tablets, and television.
• Lamps – light-emitting diode lamps, fluorescent lamps, and discharge lamps.
• Large equipment – washing machine, cloth dryers, electric stoves, photovoltaic
panels, printing, and copying equipment.
K. Grace Pavithra et al.