The recent surge in electronic device usage has led to a notable rise in electronic waste (E-waste) generation, presenting significant environmental challenges. This study aims to quantify Kerala\'s E-waste inventory and formulate a comprehensive management plan. Utilizing sales data from 2017 to 2020 and estimating E-waste generation based on \"average\" or \"end-of-life\" durations of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) items, the analysis forecasts substantial E-waste quantities. Key assumptions include correlating sales data with E-waste generation and utilizing guidelines for estimating E-waste quantities based on EEE item types and sales figures. The highest E-waste generation is predicted for the years 2028-2029, estimated at 97,541 tonnes, which is crucial for the state\'s management strategy. To address this challenge, the study proposes a comprehensive environmental management plan that integrates the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle (3R) into its core strategies. The plan includes establishing 78 collection units across the state, strategically allocated based on the Taluk (a sub-division of a district) population, to ensure efficient E-waste collection and recovery of reusable items. Additionally, the study outlines the need for 273 recycling units statewide, with Malappuram district requiring the most units due to its high population density. The plan emphasizes efficient E-waste collection, segregation, and recycling, promoting responsible consumption and resource conservation. The study furnishes a \"cradle-to-grave\" framework for the management of E-waste at local, regional, and national levels, serving as a valuable resource for pollution control boards, regulatory bodies, statutory bodies, and research organizations alike.

E-waste recycling is an increasingly important activity that contributes to reducing the burden of end-of-life electronic and electrical apparatus and allows for the EU\'s transition to a circular economy. This study investigated the exposure levels of selected persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in workers from e-waste recycling facilities across Europe. The concentrations of seven polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and eight polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) congeners were measured by GC-MS. Workers were categorized into five groups based on the type of e-waste handled and two control groups. Generalized linear models were used to assess the determinants of exposure levels among workers. POPs levels were also assessed in dust and silicone wristbands (SWB) and compared with serum. Four PCB congeners (CB 118, 138, 153, and 180) were frequently detected in serum regardless of worker\'s category. With the exception of CB 118, all tested PCBs were significantly higher in workers compared to the control group. Controls working in the same company as occupationally exposed (Within control group), also displayed higher levels of serum CB 180 than non-industrial controls with no known exposures to these chemicals (Outwith controls) (p < 0.05). BDE 209 was the most prevalent POP in settled dust (16 μg/g) and SWB (220 ng/WB). Spearman correlation revealed moderate to strong positive correlations between SWB and dust. Increased age and the number of years smoked cigarettes were key determinants for workers exposure. Estimated daily intake through dust ingestion revealed that ΣPCB was higher for both the 50th (0.03 ng/kg bw/day) and 95th (0.09 ng/kg bw/day) percentile exposure scenarios compared to values reported for the general population. This study is one of the first to address the occupational exposure to PCBs and PBDEs in Europe among e-waste workers through biomonitoring combined with analysis of settled dust and SWB. Our findings suggest that e-waste workers may face elevated PCB exposure and that appropriate exposure assessments are needed to establish effective mitigation strategies.

Workers involved in the processing of electronic waste (e-waste) are potentially exposed to toxic chemicals, including phthalates and alternative plasticizers (APs). Dismantling and shredding of e-waste may lead to the production of dust that contains these plasticizers. The aim of this study, which was part of the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU), was to assess the exposure to phthalates (e.g. di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), di-butyl phthalate (DBP), butyl-benzyl phthalate (BBzP), di-isononyl phthalate (DiNP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DiDP) and cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic di-isononyl ester (DINCH) in e-waste workers from ten European companies. This was achieved by (i) analysing urine samples from 106 e-waste workers collected at the beginning and at the end of the work week, (ii) comparing these with urine samples from 63 non-occupationally exposed controls, and (iii) analysing settled floor dust collected in e-waste premises. Significantly higher urinary concentrations of seven out of thirteen phthalates and DINCH metabolites were found in the e-waste workers compared to the control population. However, no significant differences were found between pre- and post-shift concentrations in the e-waste workers. Concentrations of DBP, DEHP and DiDP in dust were weakly to moderately positively correlated with their corresponding urinary metabolite concentrations in the e-waste workers (Spearman\'s ρ = 0.4, 0.3 and 0.2, respectively). Additionally, significantly lower urinary concentrations of nine phthalates and DINCH metabolites were found in e-waste workers using respiratory protective equipment (RPE) during their work activities, reflecting the potential benefits of RPE to prevent occupational exposure to phthalates and DINCH. The estimated daily intake (EDI) values obtained in this study were lower than the corresponding tolerable daily intake (TDI) adopted by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for the general population, suggesting that the risk for negative health consequences in this population of e-waste workers from exposure to phthalates and DINCH is expected to be low. This was confirmed by the urinary metabolite concentrations of all workers being lower than the HBM4EU guidance values derived for the occupational exposed and general population. This study is one of the first to address the occupational exposure to phthalates and DINCH in Europe in e-waste dismantling workers, combining a human biomonitoring approach with analysis of settled indoor dust.

Advances in digital electronics delivered small and portable gadgets, changing human interface with technology. Demand for new small devices of Information and Telecommunication Technology (small-IT) that have a short lifespan, like smartphones and laptops, creates flows and accumulation of electronic resources. These include precious metals that show potential for Urban Mining and Circular Economy. To find out the extent of setting up an improved recycling, reuse and repair system, data collection was conducted through surveys, bin observations and social experiments. These methods enabled us to analyse stocks and flows, identify behavioural practices and map collection infrastructure. About 80% of domestic small-IT stocks are hibernated, meaning they could be directly reused or easily repaired. Results show four barriers that keep citizens from handing in their unused small-IT: Devices are kept as back-up, they contain sentimental value, citizens are suspicious of post-collection data confidentiality issues and there is a perceived high effort to recycle. Drivers to enhance circularity are: improving e-waste infrastructure, introducing economic incentives and raising awareness on environmental impacts of hibernated stocks. A more trustworthy and legitimate management system is expected to deliver safety and confidentiality of personal data and provide the quality that fits the expectations of citizens of a proper place to dispose of their valuable items.

Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) is considered as resource and secondary source of metals, and is being recycled for recovery of precious and base metals. But the processes of recycling and the waste generated during e-waste recycling in informal and formal sectors contribute toxic metals in to the environment. This work aimed to compare the environmental and health impacts of informal and formal e-waste recycling facilities at New Delhi and Bhiwadi Industrial area in India, respectively. Here, concentrations of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sn, V, Zn, and Ag, and As in surface dust collected from informal and formal recycling sectors and their associated pollution, human health and ecological risk are presented. Metal concentrations were higher than the background levels in both sectors. Contamination factor (Cf), contamination degree (Cdeg), pollution load index (PLI), geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EnF) of metals indicated severe pollution levels in both sectors. However, contamination in informal sector was comparatively higher than the formal sector. Sampling sites in both sectors had very high ecological risk. Storage, dismantling/shredding and recycling techniques were contributors of metals in surface dust in formal sector whereas fumes deposition, re-suspension, and dried by-products during acid bath treatments were additional sources in informal sector. Metal pollution depends on metal(s), e-waste type(s) and recycling sector(s). Total non-carcinogenic health risk due to metals was 6.5E+00 and 6.0E+01 and 6.2E+00 and 5.5E+01 in adult and children in informal and formal sectors, respectively. Total carcinogenic risk was 3.3E-03 and 7.2E-03 in informal and formal sectors, respectively. Ingestion was major pathways of metals followed by dermal and inhalation and children were more prone to risk compared to adults. Formal sectors too cause metal pollution but to lesser degree compared to informal. More effective pollution control measures are required in formal sector to control environmental pollution.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology has established itself as an effective tool for identifying various objects in all human and business areas. There are many studies describing the use of this technology. However, scientific articles only marginally address the issue of recycling or reusing radio frequency identifiers. Radio frequency identifiers are defined as electronic waste by European Union legislation. This article deals with the environmental burden resulting from the use of radio frequency identifiers in a selected logistics centre and courier company in the Slovak and Czech Republic territories. The research and its relevance have become topical in the context of pandemics and with the increasing demand for products and courier services. In order to access the level of the above-mentioned environmental burden in a relevant way, an analysis of the circulation of transport units (pallets) and radio frequency identifiers in the selected logistics centre was carried out. The research results showed that the selected logistics centre generated annually 5.7 t of the e-waste from radio frequency identifiers placed on received pallets. The amount of 139 kg of metal was present in the e-waste quantity. The partial results of the research were applied to the e-commerce area. This article\'s conclusion is dedicated to the characterization of possibilities of reducing the environmental burden from the use of radio frequency identifiers in logistics.

BACKGROUND: e-Waste is a rapidly growing waste stream worldwide, and Bangladesh is a hub of e-waste handling. Informal e-waste recycling operations involve crude methods for dismantling, repairing, sorting, and recycling electronic goods with bare hands and without personal health protections. Direct inhalation or dermal exposure to toxicants during informal recycling is common. Evidence suggests that e-waste-derived toxicants pollute the terrestrial ecosystem and have been linked with adverse health effects. However, e-waste recycling-related occupational health hazards have not been adequately explored in the context of Bangladesh.
OBJECTIVE: Our study aims to expand the current understanding of exposure to e-waste. This study will measure the metal concentrations in biological and environmental samples and evaluate the relationship between heavy metals and the biochemical systems of the e-waste workers.
METHODS: The study uses a cross-sectional study design consisting of an exposed site and a nonexposed control site. The trained team collected information on individual exposures, detailed work and medical history, and biological samples (blood, urine, and hair) from each subject. This study will measure heavy metal levels (lead, cadmium, and mercury) and biochemical parameters (hematological, hormonal, renal, and others) from the biological samples with reported physical function as outcomes of interest. In addition, we also collected soil and dust samples from both exposed and nonexposed control sites to measure the health risk. All the environmental samples will be analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer to determine metal concentrations. We will also conduct a qualitative investigation for a deeper understanding of the e-waste management system in Bangladesh.
RESULTS: The protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh, and The University of Queensland\'s Human Behavioral Ethics Committee. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants. We recruited 199 workers from the e-waste sites with at least 5 years of exposure and 104 control subjects with no industrial or e-waste exposure. Sample analysis is estimated to be completed in 2022.
CONCLUSIONS: Although many studies have identified potential adverse health outcomes from exposure to e-waste, there is a lack of published epidemiological research in Bangladesh. Research in this field is particularly pressing in the context of the current e-waste trend and the need to deepen the understanding of exposures and outcomes.
UNASSIGNED: DERR1-10.2196/38201.

We conducted a follow-up observational study on the effects of dioxin exposure on the synthesis of steroid hormones in infants during the perinatal period. The participants included 42 pairs of mothers and infants that were previously studied in 2015. We analyzed four types of steroid hormones including progesterone, testosterone, androstenedione (A-dione), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in the serum samples of 6-year-olds and the concentration of dioxins in breast milk. A multivariate linear regression was performed to associate steroid hormones (dependent variables) and dioxins with the body mass index (BMI), sex, age, and residence of participants (independent variables). The results were reported as β (standardized coefficient) and p-values. We found that dioxins have a significant negative correlation with DHEA and A-dione but no significant relationship with progesterone and testosterone. However, in previous studies, we found that testosterone and progesterone levels were significantly related to dioxins in 4-year-olds. We concluded that dioxins can affect the level of steroid hormones, but their effects fluctuate, and the harm caused by dioxins in children requires further long-term monitoring.

A comparative assessment of the phytoremediation efficiency of two tolerant grass species viz. vetiver and lemongrass were performed in pots against simulated Ni-Cd battery electrolyte waste (EW) contaminated soil (EW1%, EW2% and EW4% w/w). Ni (μg g-1) accumulation was higher in shoots (36.8) and roots (252.9) of vetiver than in lemongrass (12.5 and 79.7, respectively). While the same trend was true for Cd (μg g-1) accumulation in vetiver and lemon grass roots (232.2 and 147.2, respectively), however, the accumulation in vetiver shoot (43.4) was less than in lemongrass (99.9). The bioaccumulation factor of metals in both grasses increased with EW contamination. Vetiver was tolerant towards EW toxicity than lemongrass, as it exhibited lesser decline in morphological parameters, lesser rise in TBARS against the doses of EW. The activities of SOD, APX, POD enzymes were higher in vetiver whereas, only GR in lemongrass. Multiple linear regression model show, pH had strong and positive influence over the Ni and Cd uptake by the plants whereas, phosphate, OM and bioavailable metals influenced negatively. The higher R2 (>0.9) and Chi-square values ≤ 1 in sigmoid non-linear model demonstrates robustness of the model for predicting the Ni and Cd accumulation (MHM) in both the grasses. Ni accumulation was higher than Cd, roots had greater accumulation of heavy metal and vetiver was a greater accumulator of Ni and Cd from EW the contaminated soil than lemongrass.

UNASSIGNED: India is the fifth biggest producer of e-waste in the world, discarding 1.7 million tons in 2014. E-waste gets recycled mainly in the informal sector which means activities are largely unaccounted for. Hazardous chemicals and metals are released during recycling processes (lead (Pb) being the most common). Compared to other developing countries, there are few studies from India on the awareness of recyclers of health risks related to e-waste recycling.
UNASSIGNED: The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of health-related risks and behaviors among e-waste workers/recyclers belonging to the informal sector in Delhi and to determine the concentration of Pb levels in hair samples from a subset of workers from selected recycling sites.
UNASSIGNED: A cross-sectional study was conducted in three e-waste informal recycling sites of Delhi: Seelampur, Mustafabad and Mandoli using an interviewer administered questionnaire among 220 e-waste workers. Percentages were presented for each KAP indicator. Analyses were computed using the statistical software STATA 14.2.
UNASSIGNED: It was observed that 24% of participants had knowledge of the meaning of e-waste and 36% knew the chemicals that could be released from e-waste handling. Personal protective equipment (PPE) was used by only 12% of the workers. Twenty-six percent (26%) perceived occupational injuries (cuts or burns) as mild and 20% perceived coughing immediately after work as mild. Explorative analysis showed a link between worker education level and the type of work practices employed. The median level of Pb concentration among hair samples was 8 mg/kg with inter-quartile range between 5.8 to 12.4 mg/kg.
UNASSIGNED: Knowledge and practices among e-waste workers regarding the health hazards associated with e-waste recycling were poor with little knowledge of or attention to health risks. A comprehensive remediation package covering sensitization and awareness-building strategies of the health risks associated with informal e-waste recycling should be an urgent priority.
UNASSIGNED: Obtained.
UNASSIGNED: Ethics approval was obtained from the Institutional Ethical Committee (IEC), Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi.
UNASSIGNED: The authors declare no competing financial interests.