Seeberger Jessica, Grandhi Radhika, Kim Stephani S, Mase William A, Reponen Tiina, Ho Shuk-mei, Chen Aimin
J Environ Health. 2016 Oct;79(3):8-16.
Electronic waste (e-waste) generation is increasing worldwide, and its management becomes a significant challenge because of the many toxicants present in electronic devices. The U.S. is a major producer of e-waste, although its management practice and policy regulation are not sufficient to meet the challenge. We reviewed e-waste generation, current management practices and trends, policy challenges, potential health impact, and toxicant exposure prevention in the U.S. A large amount of toxic metals, flame retardants, and other persistent organic pollutants exist in e-waste or can be released from the disposal of e-waste (e.g., landfill, incineration, recycling). Landfill is still a major method used to dispose of obsolete electronic devices, and only about half of the states have initiated a landfill ban for e-waste. Recycling of e-waste is an increasing trend in the past few years. There is potential, however, for workers to be exposed to a mixture of toxicants in e-waste and these exposures should be curtailed. Perspectives and recommendations are provided regarding managing e-waste in the U.S. to protect public health, including enacting federal legislation, discontinuing landfill disposal, protecting workers in recycling facilities from toxicant exposure, reducing toxicant release into the environment, and raising awareness of this growing environmental health issue among the public.
全球范围内电子垃圾（电子废弃物）的产生量正在增加，由于电子设备中存在多种有毒物质，其管理成为一项重大挑战。美国是电子垃圾的主要生产国，尽管其管理实践和政策法规不足以应对这一挑战。我们回顾了美国电子垃圾的产生量、当前管理实践与趋势、政策挑战、潜在健康影响以及有毒物质暴露预防情况。电子垃圾中存在大量有毒金属、阻燃剂和其他持久性有机污染物，或者在电子垃圾处置（如填埋、焚烧、回收）过程中会释放出来。填埋仍然是处置废旧电子设备的主要方式，只有约一半的州已开始禁止将电子垃圾填埋。在过去几年中，电子垃圾回收呈上升趋势。然而，工人有可能接触到电子垃圾中的多种有毒物质混合物，应减少此类暴露。文中提供了关于美国电子垃圾管理以保护公众健康的观点和建议，包括制定联邦立法、停止填埋处置、保护回收设施中的工人免受有毒物质暴露、减少有毒物质向环境中的释放，以及提高公众对这一日益严重的环境卫生问题的认识。
