title: The formal electronic recycling industry: Challenges and opportunities in occupational and environmental health research.
abstract: E-waste includes electrical and electronic equipment discarded as waste without intent of reuse. Informal e-waste recycling, typically done in smaller, unorganized businesses, can expose workers and communities to serious chemical health hazards. It is unclear if formalization into larger, better-controlled electronics recycling (e-recycling) facilities solves environmental and occupational health problems.
  
  
  
  To systematically review the literature on occupational and environmental health hazards of formal e-recycling facilities and discuss challenges and opportunities to strengthen research in this area.
  
  
  
  We identified 37 publications from 4 electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Environmental Index, NIOSHTIC-2) specific to chemical exposures in formal e-recycling facilities.
  
  
  
  Environmental and occupational exposures depend on the degree of formalization of the facilities but further reduction is needed. Reported worker exposures to metals were often higher than recommended occupational guidelines. Levels of brominated flame-retardants in worker's inhaled air and biological samples were higher than those from reference groups. Air, dust, and soil concentrations of metals, brominated flame-retardants, dioxins, furans, polycyclic-aromatic hydrocarbons, or polychlorinated biphenyls found inside or near the facilities were generally higher than reference locations, suggesting transport into the environment. Children of a recycler had blood lead levels higher than public health recommended guidelines.
  
  
  
  With mounting e-waste, more workers, their family members, and communities could experience unhealthful exposures to metals and other chemicals. We identified research needs to further assess exposures, health, and improve controls. The long-term solution is manufacturing of electronics without harmful substances and easy-to-disassemble components.
authors: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: ceballos@hsph.harvard.edu.
authors: Diana Maria
authors: DM
authors: Ceballos
authors: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Zhao
authors: Z
authors: Dong
mesh_terms: D004147:Dioxins; D004391:Dust; D059029:Electronic Waste; D004782:Environmental Health; D005411:Flame Retardants; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D007854:Lead; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016272:Occupational Health; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D059027:Recycling
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D004391:Dust; D005411:Flame Retardants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D007854:Lead; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Chemical hazards; E-waste; Electronics recycling; Environmental health; Formal e-recycling; Occupational health