title: Working conditions and environmental exposures among electronic waste workers in Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate and describe informal e-waste recycling and working conditions at Agbogbloshie, Accra, Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted in-depth interviews which were qualitatively analysed from a grounded theory perspective.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workers obtained e-waste from the various residential areas in Accra, then dismantled and burned them in open air to recover copper, aluminum, steel, and other products for sale to customers on-site or at the nearby Agbogbloshie market. The processers worked under unhealthy conditions often surrounded by refuse and human excreta without any form of protective gear and were thus exposed to frequent burns, cuts, and inhalation of highly contaminated fumes. We observed no form of social security/support system for the workers, who formed informal associations to support one another in times of difficulty.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  e-waste recycling working conditions were very challenging and presented serious hazards to worker health and wellbeing. Formalizing the e-waste processing activities requires developing a framework of sustainable financial and social security for the e-waste workers, including adoption of low-cost, socially acceptable, easy-to-operate, and cleaner technologies that would safeguard the health of the workers and the general public.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akormedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Behavioural Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Asampong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana.
authors.forename: Julius N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Fobil
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D059029:Electronic Waste; D005390:Fires; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016272:Occupational Health; D059027:Recycling / Q000379:methods*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D012449:Safety; D012944:Social Support; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational