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Global Trends of E-waste Pollution and Its Impact on Environment

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Electronic Waste Pollution

Part of the book series: Soil Biology ((SOILBIOL,volume 57))

Abstract

At the global scale, electronic waste (e-waste) pollution has been considered as a major threat to human health due to its exposure through numerous pathways. The scientific literature regarding potential adverse health effects of e-waste is mainly related to human exposure through ingestion, occupational exposure, or inhalation. However, data regarding the worldwide production and population exposure is much limited. In this chapter, we have summarized the current scientific information regarding the categories of e-waste. The chapter also outlines the handling of e-waste in developed and developing countries and human exposure to e-waste through the various possible routes. Moreover, the contaminations of different environmental media with respect to toxic elements, particularly heavy metals are also discussed. These given studies indicate that e-waste exposure may cause potential human health hazards. Based on this current state of knowledge, strategies can then be proposed to reduce human exposure to e-waste.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Rida Akram,  Natasha, Muhammad Mubeen, Ali Zakir, Amjad Farooq & Wajid Nasim

  2. Institute of Pure and Applied Biology, Bahauddin Zakerya University, Multan, Pakistan

    Ali Ahmad & Sibgha Noreen

  3. Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi

  4. Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan

    Syeda Riffat Sultana

  5. Department of Environmental Sciences, Bahauddin Zakerya University, Multan, Pakistan

    Abdul Wahid

  6. Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Mazhar Abbas

  7. Central Cotton Research Institute (CCRI), Multan, Pakistan

    Khurram Shahzad

  8. Department of Agriculture, University of Swabi, Swabi, KPK, Pakistan

    Shah Fahad

  9. Department of Agronomy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan

    Shakeel Ahmad

  10. Department of Agronomy, University College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur (IUB), Bahawalpur, Pakistan

    Wajid Nasim

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  1. Rida Akram
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  2. Natasha
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  3. Ali Ahmad
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  4. Sibgha Noreen
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  7. Abdul Wahid
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  10. Amjad Farooq
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  13. Shah Fahad
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  14. Shakeel Ahmad
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  15. Wajid Nasim
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi

  2. Amity Institute of Microbial Technology, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India

    Ajit Varma

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Akram, R. et al. (2019). Global Trends of E-waste Pollution and Its Impact on Environment. In: Hashmi, M., Varma, A. (eds) Electronic Waste Pollution. Soil Biology, vol 57. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-26615-8_5

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