219
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Khan et al. (eds.), E-waste Recycling and Management,
Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 33,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14184-4_12
Chapter 12
E-waste and Their Implications
on the Environment and Human Health
Barkha Vaish, Bhavisha Sharma, Pooja Singh, and Rajeev Pratap Singh
Contents
12.1 Introduction
220
12.2 Trends in E-waste Generation
222
12.3 Environmental Implication of E-waste
223
12.3.1 Heavy Metal Toxicity
224
12.3.2 Hazardous Chemical Toxicity
225
12.4 Effect on Human Health
226
12.5 Conclusion
227
References
228
Abstract Rapid influx of modern technology in the past few decades has led to an
exponential increase in the usage of the electrical and electronic equipment on a
global level. This unprecedented increase, on one hand, has revolutionized the field
of communication and information technology, providing a major boost to business
and economic activities; however, it has also led to the generation of one of the
fastest-growing waste streams in the world, popularly referred to as E-waste.
Constituents of E-waste are both hazardous and nonhazardous and valuable,
comprising of toxic elements (Cd, Cr, Hg, As, Pb, Se), radioactive active substances,
halogenated compounds (polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated biphenyls,
polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chlorofluorocarbon, etc.), plastics, glass, ceramics,
rubber, ferrous and non-ferrous metals (Al, Cu) and precious metals like Au, Ag,
and Pt. With 20–50 million tonnes of global E-waste generation and an anticipated
growth of 33%, the problem of rapidly growing E-waste is an issue faced by both
developed and developing countries of the world. Additionally, unscientific and
crude disposal and recycling practices for management of E-waste have severe
B. Vaish · B. Sharma · R. P. Singh (*)
Department of Environment and Sustainable Development, Institute of Environment
and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
P. Singh
Department of Science, Institute of Computer Science and Technology, SHEPA,
Varanasi, India
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
A. Khan et al. (eds.), E-waste Recycling and Management,
Environmental Chemistry for a Sustainable World 33,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14184-4_12
Chapter 12
E-waste and Their Implications
on the Environment and Human Health
Barkha Vaish, Bhavisha Sharma, Pooja Singh, and Rajeev Pratap Singh
Contents
12.1 Introduction
220
12.2 Trends in E-waste Generation
222
12.3 Environmental Implication of E-waste
223
12.3.1 Heavy Metal Toxicity
224
12.3.2 Hazardous Chemical Toxicity
225
12.4 Effect on Human Health
226
12.5 Conclusion
227
References
228
Abstract Rapid influx of modern technology in the past few decades has led to an
exponential increase in the usage of the electrical and electronic equipment on a
global level. This unprecedented increase, on one hand, has revolutionized the field
of communication and information technology, providing a major boost to business
and economic activities; however, it has also led to the generation of one of the
fastest-growing waste streams in the world, popularly referred to as E-waste.
Constituents of E-waste are both hazardous and nonhazardous and valuable,
comprising of toxic elements (Cd, Cr, Hg, As, Pb, Se), radioactive active substances,
halogenated compounds (polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated biphenyls,
polybrominated diphenyl ethers, chlorofluorocarbon, etc.), plastics, glass, ceramics,
rubber, ferrous and non-ferrous metals (Al, Cu) and precious metals like Au, Ag,
and Pt. With 20–50 million tonnes of global E-waste generation and an anticipated
growth of 33%, the problem of rapidly growing E-waste is an issue faced by both
developed and developing countries of the world. Additionally, unscientific and
crude disposal and recycling practices for management of E-waste have severe
B. Vaish · B. Sharma · R. P. Singh (*)
Department of Environment and Sustainable Development, Institute of Environment
and Sustainable Development, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
P. Singh
Department of Science, Institute of Computer Science and Technology, SHEPA,
Varanasi, India