1
|
Okeke ES, Enochoghene A, Ezeudoka BC, Kaka SD, Chen Y, Mao G, ThankGod Eze C, Feng W, Wu X. A review of heavy metal risks around e-waste sites and comparable municipal dumpsites in major African cities: Recommendations and future perspectives. Toxicology 2024; 501:153711. [PMID: 38123013 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
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.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Sunday Okeke
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Science & Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State 410001, Nigeria
| | | | | | - Steve Dokpo Kaka
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Guanghua Mao
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | | | - Weiwei Feng
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
| | - Xiangyang Wu
- Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Safety, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd, Zhenjiang 212013, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pouyamanesh S, Kowsari E, Ramakrishna S, Chinnappan A. A review of various strategies in e-waste management in line with circular economics. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:93462-93490. [PMID: 37572248 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-29224-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Waste management of electrical and electronic equipment has become a key challenge for electronics manufacturers due to globalization and the rapid expansion of information technology. As the volume of e-waste grows, legal departments lack the infrastructure, technology, and ability to collect and manage it environmentally soundly. Government laws, economic reasons, and social issues are important considerations in e-waste management. The circular economy concept is built on reusing and recycling goods and resources. A novel idea called the circular economy might prevent the negative consequences brought on by the exploitation and processing of natural resources while also having good effects such as lowering the demand for raw materials, cutting down on the use of fundamental resources, and creating jobs. To demonstrate the significance of policy implementation, the necessity for technology, and the need for societal awareness to build a sustainable and circular economy, the study intends to showcase international best practices in e-waste management. This study uses circular economy participatory implementation methods to provide a variety of possible approaches to assist decision-makers in e-waste management. The purpose of this article is to review the most accepted methods for e-waste management to emphasize the importance of implementing policies, technology requirements, and social awareness in creating a circular economy. To conclude, this paper highlights the necessity of a common legal framework, reform of the informal sector, the responsibility of different stakeholders, and entrepreneurial perspectives.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Soudabeh Pouyamanesh
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, No. 424, Hafez Avenue, Tehran, 1591634311, Iran
| | - Elaheh Kowsari
- Department of Chemistry, Amirkabir University of Technology, No. 424, Hafez Avenue, Tehran, 1591634311, Iran.
| | - Seeram Ramakrishna
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119260, Singapore
| | - Amutha Chinnappan
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Center for Nanofibers and Nanotechnology, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 119260, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Eze CT, Otitoloju AA, Eze OO, Ugochukwu TE, Onodugo C, Ali AM, Lyche JL, Karlsen OA, Goksøyr A. West African e-waste-soil assessed with a battery of cell-based bioassays. Sci Total Environ 2023; 856:159068. [PMID: 36179844 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Soil samples randomly taken from major e-waste sites in West Africa (Nigeria, Benin and Ghana) were examined for an extensive range of organic contaminants. Cytotoxicity measurements and assessment of activation of xeno-sensing receptors from fish (Atlantic cod) were employed as a battery of in vitro biological assays to explore the quality and toxicity profile of West African e-waste soil. The concentrations of the measured contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the e-waste soil differs significantly from the reference soil with chemical profiles typically dominated by legacy polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (405.8 μgkg-1) and emerging organophosphate ester flame retardant tris (1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP) (404 μgkg-1), in addition to the short chain perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) (275.3 μgkg-1) and perfluorobutanoate (PFBA) (16 μgkg-1). The study revealed that perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) occurred only in e-waste soil from Ghana and ranged from 2.6 to 5.0 μgkg-1. Overall, non-polar e-waste soil-derived extracts had a stronger effect on COS-7 cell viability than the polar extracts and elutriates. The highest receptor activation was observed with single polar and non-polar extracts from the Nigeria and Benin sites, indicating hotspots with Er-, PPARa- and Ahr-agonist activities. Thus, the results obtained with our battery of in vitro biological assays underscored these e-waste sites as remarkably polluted spots with complex toxicity profiles of great concern for human and environmental health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
| | | | | | | | - Chinemelum Onodugo
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
| | - Aasim Musa Ali
- Section of Contaminants and Biohazards, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), P.O 1870 Nordnes, NO-5817 Bergen, Norway
| | - Jan Ludvig Lyche
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Odd André Karlsen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anders Goksøyr
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
da Silveira Gorman R, Syed IU. Connecting the Dots in Emerging Mast Cell Research: Do Factors Affecting Mast Cell Activation Provide a Missing Link between Adverse COVID-19 Outcomes and the Social Determinants of Health? Med Sci (Basel) 2022; 10:29. [PMID: 35736349 PMCID: PMC9228930 DOI: 10.3390/medsci10020029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence continues to emerge that the social determinants of health play a role in adverse outcomes related to COVID-19, including increased morbidity and mortality, increased risk of long COVID, and vaccine adverse effects. Therefore, a more nuanced understanding of the biochemical and cellular pathways of illnesses commonly associated with adverse social determinants of health is urgently needed. We contend that a commitment to understanding adverse outcomes in historically marginalized communities will increase community-level confidence in public health measures. Here, we synthesize emerging literature on mast cell disease, and the role of mast cells in chronic illness, alongside emerging research on mechanisms of COVID illness and vaccines. We propose that a focus on aberrant and/or hyperactive mast cell behavior associated with chronic underlying health conditions can elucidate adverse COVID-related outcomes and contribute to the pandemic recovery. Standards of care for mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), as well as clinical reviews, experimental research, and case reports, suggest that effective and cost-efficient remedies are available, including antihistamines, vitamin C, and quercetin, among others. Primary care physicians, specialists, and public health workers should consider new and emerging evidence from the biomedical literature in tackling COVID-19. Specialists and researchers note that MCAS is likely grossly under-diagnosed; therefore, public health agencies and policy makers should urgently attend to community-based experiences of adverse COVID outcomes. It is essential that we extract and examine experiential evidence of marginalized communities from the broader political–ideological discourse.
Collapse
|
5
|
Liao J, Liu Y, Yi J, Li Y, Li Q, Li Y, Shang P, Guo J, Hu L, Pan J, Li Y, Chang YF, Tang Z, Zhang H. Gut microbiota disturbance exaggerates battery wastewater-induced hepatotoxicity through a gut-liver axis. Sci Total Environ 2022; 809:152188. [PMID: 34875328 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
As the primary source of electricity for various devices, batteries are important contributors to the overall electronic waste generated; and are widely considered a source of highly ecotoxic pollutants. Material leakage in battery manufacturing has not been completely solved, and the elucidation of the toxic mechanisms of battery wastewater exposure is needed. We demonstrated that battery waste exposure disrupted the intestinal flora and aggravated hepatotoxicity via the gut-liver axis. Under battery waste exposure, colon epithelium suffered physiological damage, and gene and protein expression levels related to gut barrier function (ZO-1, claudin-1, and Occludin) were significantly downregulated. Meanwhile, battery waste reduced the richness and diversity of the flora, causing metabolites produced by intestinal microbes to enter the gut-liver axis. Gut microbial dysbiosis impaired mitochondrial respiratory function in liver tissue cells, and mitophagy, apoptosis, and the disorder of glycolipids and amino acid metabolism were induced in hosts exposed to battery toxins. Altogether, these results provided novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of battery wastewater-related hepatotoxicity induced by gut microbiota via the gut-liver axis, which has public health implications where humans and animals are exposed to industrial toxins generated by uncontained battery disposal.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhao Liao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yingwei Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jiangnan Yi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yuanliang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Quanwei Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yangwei Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Peng Shang
- College of Animal Science, Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry College, Linzhi 860000, Tibet, PR China.
| | - Jianying Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Lianmei Hu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Jiaqiang Pan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Ying Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yung-Fu Chang
- Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Zhaoxin Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, Guangdong, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Eze CT, Eze OO, Ugochukwu TE, Amaeze NH, Ogbuene EB, Otitoloju AA. In vitro cytotoxic assessment of e-waste-related chemical pollution in impacted soil matrix. Environ Monit Assess 2022; 194:209. [PMID: 35194689 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-021-09717-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The environmental quality and toxicity of soil from some selected informal e-waste sites in West Africa was assessed on PLHC-1 liver cells. In addition, toxicity mechanisms such as apoptosis, necrosis and necroptosis were analysed in order to determine the effect of the actual chemical mixture present in the e-waste soil matrix. The investigation revealed that although e-waste soil extracts (polar and non-polar) and elutriates were significantly cytotoxic at the tested concentration (16 mg soil EQ/ml), PLHC-1 cell viability was not reduced below 50%. The non-polar extracts were more toxic compared to polar extracts and elutriates. The cytotoxic potency of soil from the informal e-waste-recycling sites ranged in this order: Alaba > Godome-Kouhounou > Agbogblosie. The study revealed that all e-waste soil extracts and elutriates induced significant (P < 0.01) PLHC-1 cell death by apoptosis and necrosis; however, cell death by apoptosis was higher compared to that by necrosis. The results indicated that except for non-polar extracts (N4, B4 and G4) from open burning areas that induced significant (P < 0.01) PLHC-1 cell death by necroptosis, other extracts and elutriates could not cause cell death by necroptosis. The study has demonstrated that soils from the Alaba e-waste site in Lagos could be more toxic than soils from Godome-Kouhounou (Cotonou) and Agbogblosie (Accra) e-waste sites and further highlighted open burning as an informal e-waste-handling method with greater negative impact on soil quality in the e-waste sites. The study emphasizes the urgent need for regulatory agencies to introduce regular residue-monitoring programmes in order to forestall the adverse effects of soil pollution episodes in the e-waste sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chukwuebuka ThankGod Eze
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.
- Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria.
| | | | | | - Nnamdi Henry Amaeze
- Department of Zoology, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos State, Nigeria
| | | | | |
Collapse
|