Abstract：
In Africa, the effects of informal e-waste recycling on the environment are escalating. It is regularly transported from developed to developing nations, where it is disassembled informally in search of precious metals, thus increasing human exposure to harmful compounds. Africa has a serious problem with e-waste, as there are significant facilities in Ghana and Nigeria where imported e-waste is unsafely dismantled. however, because they are in high demand and less expensive than new ones, old electronic and electrical items are imported in large quantities, just like in many developing nations. After that, these objects are frequently scavenged to recover important metals through heating, burning, incubation in acids, and other techniques. Serious health hazards are associated with these activities for workers and individuals close to recycling plants. At e-waste sites in Africa, there have been documented instances of elevated concentrations of hazardous elements, persistent organic pollutants, and heavy metals in dust, soils, and vegetation, including plants consumed as food. Individuals who handle and dispose of e-waste are exposed to highly hazardous chemical substances. This paper examines heavy metal risks around e-waste sites and comparable municipal dumpsites in major African cities. Elevated concentrations of these heavy metals metal in downstream aquatic and marine habitats have resulted in additional environmental impacts. These effects have been associated with unfavourable outcomes in marine ecosystems, such as reduced fish stocks characterized by smaller sizes, increased susceptibility to illness, and decreased population densities. The evidence from the examined studies shows how much e-waste affects human health and the environment in Africa. Sub-Saharan African nations require a regulatory framework that includes specialized laws, facilities, and procedures for the safe recycling and disposal of e-waste.
摘要：
在非洲,非正式电子废物回收对环境的影响正在升级。它定期从发达国家运往发展中国家，在那里它被非正式地拆卸以寻找贵金属，从而增加了人类对有害化合物的暴露。非洲的电子垃圾问题很严重,因为加纳和尼日利亚有大量的设施，进口的电子垃圾被不安全地拆除。然而,因为它们的需求量很大，而且比新的便宜，旧电子电器大量进口，就像许多发展中国家一样。之后,这些物体经常被清除以通过加热回收重要金属，燃烧,在酸中孵育，和其他技术。这些活动对回收工厂附近的工人和个人造成严重的健康危害。在非洲的电子垃圾场，已经记录了危险元素浓度升高的情况，持久性有机污染物，灰尘中的重金属，土壤,和植被，包括作为食物消费的植物。处理和处置电子废物的个人暴露于高度危险的化学物质。本文研究了非洲主要城市电子垃圾场和可比市政垃圾场周围的重金属风险。这些重金属在下游水生和海洋生境中的浓度升高导致了额外的环境影响。这些影响与海洋生态系统的不利结果有关，例如以更小的尺寸为特征的鱼类种群减少，对疾病的易感性增加，人口密度下降。研究的证据表明，电子垃圾对非洲的人类健康和环境有多大影响。撒哈拉以南非洲国家需要一个监管框架，包括专门的法律，设施,以及安全回收和处置电子废物的程序。
