Potential toxic element (PTE) soil concentrations at an urban unregulated Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre: environmental contamination, human exposure and policy implications

Eureka E.A. Adomako; Andrea Raab; Gareth J. Norton; Andrew A. Meharg

doi:10.1007/s12403-022-00516-x

Potential toxic element (PTE) soil concentrations at an urban unregulated Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre: environmental contamination, human exposure and policy implications

Eureka E.A. Adomako^*
, Andrea Raab
, Gareth J. Norton
, Andrew A. Meharg

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

202 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Electronic (E)-waste recycling is of ever-increasing concern as disused electronic items in developed countries are routinely shipped to developing countries for recycling. This recycling is often unregulated and rudimentary, and takes place in urban settings where it can cause direct exposure of the surrounding human populace. E-waste is often burnt at low temperatures, resulting in both organic and inorganic contamination. This study set out to investigate the extent of contamination at two locations within an urban Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre by assessing the residual impact of activities in soils. Comparison of e-waste soil potential toxic element (PTE) concentrations to those in Ghanaian baseline and mine spoil soils showed considerably greater contamination from e-waste. Generally, PTE concentrations increased in the order: baseline soils < mine spoil soils < e-waste soils, except in the case of lead (Pb) where baseline and mine spoil soils switched positions. At median concentrations, cobalt enrichment was 2- to 4-fold higher in the e-waste soils than in mine spoil soils, while arsenic was 3- to 5-fold higher. With reference to the baseline soils, manganese, nickel and bismuth concentrations were, respectively, up to 4-, 11- and 53-fold higher in the e-waste soils. Median cadmium, zinc, copper and Pb concentrations were, respectively, up to 170-, 213-, 231- and 263-fold higher in the e-waste soils compared to the mine spoil soils. The human exposure implications of e-waste burning are discussed along with policy recommendations aimed at ensuring the social and environmental sustainability of e-waste recycling.

Original language	English
Journal	Exposure and Health
Early online date	11 Oct 2022
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s12403-022-00516-x
Publication status	Early online date - 11 Oct 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
In addition to mandatory laws to extend the life of e-devices and ensure that they are fully recycled at the end of their life span, Abalansa et al. () called for stringent global environmental policies (e.g. penalties and sanctions) along with the adoption of urban mining and circular economy principles. An example is Nigeria’s $15 million project on Circular Economy Approaches for the Electronics Sector led by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Launched in 2019, the project seeks to promote sustainable production and consumption by ensuring that e-device producers take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products (Galan ). In China, companies like Nokia and Lenovo offer free take-back services for old e-devices (Perkins et al. ). An effort to observe extended producer responsibility (EPR) is also seen in Kenya, where Safaricom—the country’s largest telecommunications provider—has provided collection points at its shops for obsolete mobile phones and accessories (Bimir ). In Ghana, there is need for increased enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) and the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act, 2016 (Act 917). The latter provides the legal basis for establishing the requisite institutional structures and recycling facilities for the proper disposal and management of hazardous waste as well as an E-waste Management Fund (EMF) to support e-waste-related research and public education initiatives (Bruce-Vanderpuije et al. ; Adanu et al. ). Setting aside a quota of the EMF for remediation-related capacity development would be a step in the right direction. Acknowledgements

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

E-waste
Environmental sustainability
Potential toxic element
Soil contamination

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Water Science and Technology
Pollution
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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Potential toxic element (PTE) soil concentrations at an urban unregulated Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre: environmental contamination, human exposure and policy implications
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2022 This work is made available online in accordance with the publisher’s policies. Please refer to any applicable terms of use of the publisher.
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Cite this

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title = "Potential toxic element (PTE) soil concentrations at an urban unregulated Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre: environmental contamination, human exposure and policy implications",

abstract = "Electronic (E)-waste recycling is of ever-increasing concern as disused electronic items in developed countries are routinely shipped to developing countries for recycling. This recycling is often unregulated and rudimentary, and takes place in urban settings where it can cause direct exposure of the surrounding human populace. E-waste is often burnt at low temperatures, resulting in both organic and inorganic contamination. This study set out to investigate the extent of contamination at two locations within an urban Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre by assessing the residual impact of activities in soils. Comparison of e-waste soil potential toxic element (PTE) concentrations to those in Ghanaian baseline and mine spoil soils showed considerably greater contamination from e-waste. Generally, PTE concentrations increased in the order: baseline soils < mine spoil soils < e-waste soils, except in the case of lead (Pb) where baseline and mine spoil soils switched positions. At median concentrations, cobalt enrichment was 2- to 4-fold higher in the e-waste soils than in mine spoil soils, while arsenic was 3- to 5-fold higher. With reference to the baseline soils, manganese, nickel and bismuth concentrations were, respectively, up to 4-, 11- and 53-fold higher in the e-waste soils. Median cadmium, zinc, copper and Pb concentrations were, respectively, up to 170-, 213-, 231- and 263-fold higher in the e-waste soils compared to the mine spoil soils. The human exposure implications of e-waste burning are discussed along with policy recommendations aimed at ensuring the social and environmental sustainability of e-waste recycling.",

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note = "Funding Information: In addition to mandatory laws to extend the life of e-devices and ensure that they are fully recycled at the end of their life span, Abalansa et al. () called for stringent global environmental policies (e.g. penalties and sanctions) along with the adoption of urban mining and circular economy principles. An example is Nigeria{\textquoteright}s \$15 million project on Circular Economy Approaches for the Electronics Sector led by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) with support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Launched in 2019, the project seeks to promote sustainable production and consumption by ensuring that e-device producers take responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products (Galan ). In China, companies like Nokia and Lenovo offer free take-back services for old e-devices (Perkins et al. ). An effort to observe extended producer responsibility (EPR) is also seen in Kenya, where Safaricom—the country{\textquoteright}s largest telecommunications provider—has provided collection points at its shops for obsolete mobile phones and accessories (Bimir ). In Ghana, there is need for increased enforcement of the Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) and the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Control and Management Act, 2016 (Act 917). The latter provides the legal basis for establishing the requisite institutional structures and recycling facilities for the proper disposal and management of hazardous waste as well as an E-waste Management Fund (EMF) to support e-waste-related research and public education initiatives (Bruce-Vanderpuije et al. ; Adanu et al. ). Setting aside a quota of the EMF for remediation-related capacity development would be a step in the right direction. Acknowledgements Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.",

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N2 - Electronic (E)-waste recycling is of ever-increasing concern as disused electronic items in developed countries are routinely shipped to developing countries for recycling. This recycling is often unregulated and rudimentary, and takes place in urban settings where it can cause direct exposure of the surrounding human populace. E-waste is often burnt at low temperatures, resulting in both organic and inorganic contamination. This study set out to investigate the extent of contamination at two locations within an urban Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre by assessing the residual impact of activities in soils. Comparison of e-waste soil potential toxic element (PTE) concentrations to those in Ghanaian baseline and mine spoil soils showed considerably greater contamination from e-waste. Generally, PTE concentrations increased in the order: baseline soils < mine spoil soils < e-waste soils, except in the case of lead (Pb) where baseline and mine spoil soils switched positions. At median concentrations, cobalt enrichment was 2- to 4-fold higher in the e-waste soils than in mine spoil soils, while arsenic was 3- to 5-fold higher. With reference to the baseline soils, manganese, nickel and bismuth concentrations were, respectively, up to 4-, 11- and 53-fold higher in the e-waste soils. Median cadmium, zinc, copper and Pb concentrations were, respectively, up to 170-, 213-, 231- and 263-fold higher in the e-waste soils compared to the mine spoil soils. The human exposure implications of e-waste burning are discussed along with policy recommendations aimed at ensuring the social and environmental sustainability of e-waste recycling.

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Potential toxic element (PTE) soil concentrations at an urban unregulated Ghanaian e-waste recycling centre: environmental contamination, human exposure and policy implications

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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