Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Services, Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT 06515, USA.
Southwestern AHEC, Inc., 5 Research Drive, Shelton, CT 06484, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Dec 23;21(1):25. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21010025.
Electronic waste (e-waste) or discarded electronic devices that are unwanted, not working, or have reached their end of life pose significant threats to human and environmental health. This is a major concern in Africa, where the majority of e-waste is discarded. In the year 2021, an estimated 57.4 million metric tons of e-waste were generated worldwide. Globally, COVID-19 lockdowns have contributed to increased e-waste generation. Although Africa generates the least of this waste, the continent has been the dumping ground for e-waste from the developed world. The flow of hazardous waste from the prosperous 'Global North' to the impoverished 'Global South' is termed "toxic colonialism". Agbogbloshie, Ghana, an e-waste hub where about 39% of e-waste was treated, was listed among the top 10 most polluted places in the world. The discard of e-waste in Ghana presents an issue of environmental injustice, defined as the disproportionate exposure of communities of color and low-income communities to pollution, its associated health and environmental effects, and the unequal environmental protection provided through policies. Despite the economic benefits of e-waste, many civilians (low-income earners, settlers, children, and people with minimal education) are exposed to negative health effects due to poverty, lack of education, and weak regulations. We critically examine the existing literature to gather empirical information on e-waste and environmental injustice. Comprehensive policies and regulations are needed to manage e-waste locally and globally.
电子垃圾（电子废物）或废弃的电子设备，如果不想要、无法使用或已达到使用寿命终点，会对人类和环境健康造成重大威胁。这是非洲面临的一个主要问题，因为那里大多数电子垃圾都被丢弃了。2021 年，全球产生了约 5740 万吨电子垃圾。在全球范围内，由于 COVID-19 封锁措施的实施，电子垃圾的产生量有所增加。尽管非洲产生的这类垃圾最少，但该大陆一直是来自发达国家的电子垃圾的倾倒地。从繁荣的“全球北方”到贫穷的“全球南方”的危险废物流动被称为“有毒殖民主义”。加纳的阿格博格布洛西（Agbogbloshie）是一个电子垃圾中心，约有 39%的电子垃圾在这里进行处理，它被列为世界上污染最严重的 10 个地方之一。加纳随意丢弃电子垃圾，这是一种环境不公平现象，其定义为有色人种社区和低收入社区面临不成比例的污染、其相关健康和环境影响以及通过政策提供的不平等环境保护。尽管电子垃圾具有经济利益，但许多平民（低收入者、定居者、儿童和受教育程度较低的人）因贫困、缺乏教育和监管薄弱而遭受负面健康影响。我们批判性地审查了现有的文献，以收集关于电子垃圾和环境不公平的实证信息。需要制定全面的政策和法规来在本地和全球范围内管理电子垃圾。
