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. 2021 Mar 29;18(7):3517.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph18073517.

Environmental Heavy Metal Contamination from Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Recycling Activities Worldwide: A Systematic Review from 2005 to 2017

M G Karel Houessionon  1 , Edgard-Marius D Ouendo  1 , Catherine Bouland  2 , Sylvia A Takyi  3 , Nonvignon Marius Kedote  1 , Benjamin Fayomi  4 , Julius N Fobil  3 , Niladri Basu  5
Affiliations

Environmental Heavy Metal Contamination from Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Recycling Activities Worldwide: A Systematic Review from 2005 to 2017

M G Karel Houessionon et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

The recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) contaminates ecosystems with metals, though a compilation of data from across sites worldwide is lacking, without which evidence-based comparisons and conclusions cannot be realized. As such, here, a systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies concerning e-waste sites (published between 2005 and 2017) that reported on the concentration of heavy metals (Cd, Hg, As, Pb and Cr) in soil, water and sediment. From 3063 papers identified, 59 studies from 11 countries meeting predefined criteria were included. Reported metal concentrations were summarized, and a narrative synthesis was performed. This review summarized 8286 measurements of the aforementioned metals in soils (5836), water (1347) and sediment (1103). More than 70% of the studies were conducted in Asia. In nearly all cases, the average metal concentrations in a particular medium from a given site were above guideline values; suggesting soils, water and sediment at, or near, e-waste recycling sites are contaminated. Across all media, concentrations of Pb were generally highest, followed by Cr, As, Cd and Hg. The synthesized information demonstrates that e-waste sites worldwide are contaminated with metals, that geographic data gaps exist, that the quality of most studies can be improved and that action is needed to help reduce such levels to protect human health and the environment.

Keywords: e-waste; environment; heavy metals; sediment; soil; water.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The sponsors had no role in the design, execution, interpretation, or writing of the study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flow diagram indicating the number of articles that were identified, screened and included in the current review. PRISMA = Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Median concentrations of heavy metals in soil by country.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Median concentrations of heavy metals in water by country.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Median concentrations of heavy metals in sediment by country.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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