Environmental Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

By Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain

Environmental Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment illustrates the socioeconomic, technical and environmental perspectives of WEEE, allowing for a better understanding on how to manage this rapidly growing waste stream. The book addresses discharge of WEEE into ecosystems, occupational exposure to hazardous components of WEEE, and loss of recoverable resources, bridging the gap between community and waste management. By providing in-depth analysis and step-by-step descriptions of environmental strategies and procedures for managing electrical and electronic waste, this book is a valuable resource for environmental scientists, environmental engineers, and waste management professionals to achieve sustainability in WEEE.

• Presents the latest knowledge on the origin, identification and adverse effects of WEEE on humans and ecosystems
• Offers up-to-date analysis on environmental management tools, such as LCA, health risk, legalization, and policies for sustainable solutions for Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
• Includes details and analysis of the novel approaches proposed in recent years for resource recovery from WEEE

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Release date: Apr 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9780128224892

Book preview

Environmental Management of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

Editor

Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain

Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States

Table of Contents

Cover image

Title page

Copyright

Contributors

Preface

Part 1. Introduction

1. Environmental problems and management aspects of waste electrical and electronic equipment and use of clean energy for sustainable development

1. Introduction

2. Sources of e-waste

3. Classification of e-waste

4. Challenges of e-wastes

5. Continent-wise and country-wise generation of e-wastes

6. Management aspects of e-wastes

7. Basel convention

8. Suggestions

9. Use of clean energy for sustainable development

10. Conclusion

2. Waste electrical and electronic equipment and environment: context, implications, and trends

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3. Results and discussion

4. Conclusions

3. E-waste: an emerging threat to one health

1. Introduction

2. E-waste generation

3. Impact on One Health

4. E-waste management and policy level initiatives in India

5. Conclusion

Part 2. Treatment technologies for WEEE

4. Microbe-assisted management and recovery of heavy metals from electronic wastes

1. Introduction

2. Composition of WEEE

3. Environment concerns and health hazards

4. Burgeoning burden of e-waste

5. WEEE management strategies

6. Metallurgical processing of WEEE

7. Conclusion

5. Biohydrometallurgical methods and the processes involved in the bioleaching of WEEE

1. Biological management of e-waste

2. Biohydrometallurgy for e-waste treatment

3. Modes of biohydrometallurgy

4. Processes involved in biohydrometallurgy

5. Bioleaching methods

6. Sequential batch bioleaching

7. Conclusion

6. Hybrid bioleaching—an emerging technique for extraction of critical metals from WEEE

1. Introduction

2. Occurrence of critical metals in PCBs

3. Overview of hybrid bioleaching process

4. Applicability of hybrid bioleaching for extraction of critical metals from WEEE

5. SWOT analysis

6. Future perspectives

7. Conclusions

7. Current trends and future perspectives of biobased methods for recovery of metals from WEEE for a sustainable environment

1. Introduction

2. Modeling and simulation studies regarding chemical and physical methods

3. Alternative technology to recycle metals from e-waste

4. Current trends and future prospectus

8. Recycling of e-waste in concrete

1. An introduction to concrete

2. Environmental impacts of concrete

3. Importance of e-waste management

4. E-waste in concrete

5. Conclusions

9. Biological treatment, recovery, and recycling of metals from waste printed circuit boards

1. Introduction

2. Classification, toxicity, and impact of WPCBs

3. Bio-based technologies for recovering metallic resources from waste PCBs

4. Effect of process factors for the bioleaching of precious metals

5. Future perspective and challenges

6. Conclusions

10. Process engineering for bioleaching of metals from waste electrical and electronic equipment

1. Introduction

2. Principles of metal bioleaching

3. Microbiology involved in metal bioleaching

4. Application of bioprocess engineering for metal bioleaching from WEEE

5. Modes of bioreactor operation for metal bioleaching from WEEE

6. Bioreactor design for bioleaching of metals from WEEE

7. Limitations of bioprocessing of WEEE

8. Conclusions and future perspectives

Part 3. Environmental management tools for WEEE

11. Financial stimulation policy as a part of socioeconomic intervention in the area of waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling

1. Introduction

2. Socioeconomic and legislative ambience in the area of WEEE recycling

3. Socioeconomic benefits in waste electrical and electronic equipment recycling

4. Socioeconomic intervention in the area of waste electrical and electronic equipment in the Republic of Serbia

5. Conclusion

Part 4. Environmental management for WEEE & sustainability paradigm

12. Achievement of sustainability by tackling e-waste overpower

1. Introduction

2. Sources of e-waste

3. Impacts of WEEE

4. Impacts on atmosphere

5. Impacts on soil

6. Impacts on ecosystem

7. Impact on human beings

8. Legal framework for waste management

9. Existing EU laws

10. UN e-waste coalition

11. The e-waste management and handling rules, 2011

12. E-waste management rules, 2016

13. Amendment to the E-Waste Management Rules, 2018

14. WEEE management strategies

15. Case study Switzerland

16. Conclusion

13. Advances in global research on the sustainable management of waste electrical and electronic equipment

1. Introduction

2. Methodology

3. Results and discussion

4. Conclusions

Index

Copyright

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Notices

Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

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ISBN: 978-0-12-822474-8

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Contributors

José A. Aznar-Sánchez,     Department of Economy and Business, Research Centre CAESCG and CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

Uday Bhan,     Department of Petroleum Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Lahari Challa,     Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tadepalligudem, Andhra Pradesh, India

Achlesh Daverey,     School of Environment and Natural Resources, Doon University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Ksenija Denčić-Mihajlov,     University of Niš, Faculty of Economics, Trg kralja Aleksandra, Niš, Serbia

Shivani Goswami,     Department of Biotechnology, Brahmanand College, Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Lalit Goswami,     Center for the Environment, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam, India

Sai Kishore Grandhi,     Department of Computer Science and Engineering, GITAM Institute of Technology, GITAM (deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Varun Gupta,     Deloitte Consulting LLP, Mechanicsburg, PA, United States

Subrata Hait,     Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar, India

Hamed Allahyari,     Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Kavita Kanaujia,     Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar, India

Prameela Kandra,     Department of Biotechnology, GITAM Institute of Technology, GITAM (deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Venkata Nikhil Kandula,     Department of Computer Science and Engineering, GITAM Institute of Technology, GITAM (deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

M. Karthikeyan,     Department of Zoology and Microbiology, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Mladen Krstić,     University of Niš, Faculty of Economics, Trg kralja Aleksandra, Niš, Serbia

Atul Kumar,     Department of Veterinary Public Health & Epidemiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK HP Agricultural University, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India

Anamika Kushwaha,     Department of Biotechnology, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India

Belén López-Felices,     Department of Economy and Business, Research Centre CAESCG and CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

Dilip K. Maiti,     Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, University College of Science, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Miguel J. Manzano-Archilla,     Department of Economy and Business, Research Centre CAESCG and CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

M. Minimol,     Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Soumyadeep Mitra,     Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, University College of Science, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

R.M. Murugappan,     Department of Zoology and Microbiology, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India

Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain,     Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ, United States

Hemanth Pavuluri,     Department of Computer Science and Engineering, GITAM Institute of Technology, GITAM (deemed to be University), Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

David Pozas-Ramos,     Department of Economy and Business, Research Centre CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

Anshu Priya,     Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

S. Razim Mohammed,     Strathclyde Business School, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

M.B. Saidutta,     Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Vidya Shetty K,     Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal, Mangalore, Karnataka, India

Narendra Singh,     Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Tirupati, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India

S. Smitha Chandran,     Department of Chemistry, Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kollam, Kerala, India

Amber Trivedi,     Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar, India

Kumar Upvan,     Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Patna, Patna, Bihar, India

Juan F. Velasco-Muñoz,     Department of Economy and Business, Research Centre CAESCG and CIAIMBITAL, University of Almería, Almería, Spain

Preface

Modern pieces of electrical and electronic equipment are more efficient and consume less energy than their predecessors. Majority of the discarded pieces of electrical and electronic equipment are not completely physically obsolete, but due to rapid technological advancement these are generally replaced with new ones. In the period of digitalization and globalization, which is followed by increasing demand for all kinds of electrical and electronic equipment, produces a huge amount of this waste. As a result, waste generated from electrical and electronic equipment is one of the fastest-growing waste streams in the present era and demands sincere attention toward its environmental management. Moreover, occupational exposure to hazardous components of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) and careless discharge of WEEE into the ecosystem can be a great loss of recoverable useful components. Overall, the lack of awareness is one of the major reasons to cause the environmental and health risk associated with WEEE generation and management. In this book, we have summarized recent progress in the management of the WEEE arena at both experimental and theoretical model scales. Considerable solutions to minimize the associated hazards on socioeconomic and technical platforms to educate readers about the possible sustainable alternatives are also addressed in this book.

In recent times, the management of WEEE has become one of the biggest challenges. Experts anticipate that the WEEE waste is one of the waste types that is growing at such a rate that it poses significant social and environmental risks for our planet. The present consumption system has negative repercussions not only in terms of the environment but also at economic and social levels. Apart from being a massive challenge, the sustainable management of electrical and electronic waste can offer various opportunities for useful resources. This book aims to provide an in-depth and step-by-step description of knowledge on various environmental management strategies for WEEE in reference to sustainability.

To capture an inclusive impression of the environmental management of WEEE and to provide the reader with a logical and expressive representation, the book is divided into four major parts, which then further consist of different chapters. The intro chapters are on explaining the environmental problems and impacts of WEEE with their emerging health concerns. The second part describes the various treatment technologies for WEEE. Microbes assisted management, biohydrometallurgical methods, hybrid bioleaching, current trends, and future perspectives of biobased methods for recovery of metals from WEEE for a sustainable environment are discussed. Then, recycling of e-waste in concrete, biological treatment, recovery and recycling of metals from waste printed circuit boards and the role of process engineering for bioleaching of metals from WEEE are explored. Part 3 talks about financial stimulation policy as a part of the socioeconomic intervention in the area of WEEE recycling. Then, Part 4 details the aspects of sustainability in the management of WEEE and recent advances in global research on various strategies and approaches to manage WEEE.

Overall, this book is designed to be a reference guidebook for experts, researchers, and scientists who are searching for new and modern development in WEEE. The editor and authors are famous researchers, scientists, and specialists from various universities and industry. On behalf of ELSEVIER, I am very delighted with all authors for their excellent and zealous hard work in the making of this book. Very special acknowledgments to Marisa LaFleur (acquisition editor) and Pat Gonzalez (ELS-SDG) (editorial project manager) at ELSEVIER, for their dedicated support and help during this project. In the end, I offer my sincere appreciation to ELSEVIER for publishing the book.

Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain, Ph.D.

(Editor)

Part 1

Introduction

Outline

1. Environmental problems and management aspects of waste electrical and electronic equipment and use of clean energy for sustainable development

2. Waste electrical and electronic equipment and environment: context, implications, and trends

3. E-waste: an emerging threat to one health

1: Environmental problems and management aspects of waste electrical and electronic equipment and use of clean energy for sustainable development

Soumyadeep Mitra, and Dilip K. Maiti     Department of Chemistry, University of Calcutta, University College of Science, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Abstract

E-waste is a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their useful life. E-waste contains many hazardous substances, which have been found to be extremely dangerous to human health and the environment. E-waste is often disposed of under less than ideal safety conditions. Various forms of electric and electronic equipment that have ceased to be of value to their users or no longer satisfy their original purpose are treated as E-wastes. The electrical wastes are TV, refrigerator, lights, etc., whereas the electronic wastes are computers, mobiles, LEDs, etc. It has been already reported in India that computer devices account for nearly 70% of e-waste, 12% comes from the telecom sector, 8% from medical equipment, and 7% from electric equipment. The government, public sector companies, and private sector companies generate nearly 75% of electronic waste, with the contribution of the individual household being only 16%. Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled. There is an up-gradation done to this E-waste garbage list, which includes gadgets like smartphone, tablets, laptops, video game consoles, cameras, and many more. Improper dumping and burning of E-wastes can lead to toxic chemicals leaking into the air, water, and soil. Potential health outcomes from e-waste exposure include changes in thyroid functions, poor neonatal outcomes, including spontaneous abortions, stillbirths and premature births, behavioral changes, malfunction of the lung, DNA damage, and child's growth (for lead). The processes used to recycle and dispose of e-waste in India have led to a number of harmful environmental impacts. In the near future, the increasing energy consumption will force us to use clean and renewable energy sources, which include solar, wind, hydrothermal energy, and biomass. Among these options, solar energy stands out as the most reliable choice to fulfill our energy requirement. The toxic, polluting sources are coal, oil, and gas. Solar energy has the ability to produce electricity and heat water. Solar energy holds enormous potential. Generating electricity from clean renewable sources increases our opportunities to displace costly polluting oil and gasoline. Cost-effective, clean, and renewable sources of electricity are getting more acceptances, while dirtier sources like coal are losing their acceptability due to the harmful residues. The power sector is a leading source of cancer-causing air pollution and one of the largest sources of carbon dioxide. Clean Energy is the energy that is produced through the processes to omit greenhouse gases or any other pollutants as residual elements and prevent the pollution of the atmosphere. The advantages of clean energy are that it reduces our reliance on Fossil Fuels and tones down climate change. Even inorganic solar cells like silicon solar cells that are not efficient left silicon wafer as residues. The silicon wafer is hazardous for soil and if it burns then it pollutes the air also. Organic and hybrid solar cells that contain glass substrates only are the best clean energy so far as those devices do not leave any harmful residues and are also recyclable.

Keywords

E-wastes; Electronic gadgets; Environment; Health hazards; Pollution; Recycling; WEEE

1. Introduction

In the 20th century, the information and communication revolution has brought enormous changes in the way we organize our lives, our economies, industries, and institutions. At the same time, these have led to manifold problems including the problem of the massive amount of hazardous waste and other waste generated from electronic products. It constitutes a serious challenge to modern societies and requires coordinated efforts to address it for achieving sustainable development (Breivik et al., 2016; Stevels et al., 2013). E-waste or electronic wastes are items that are generated from electrical or electronic usage, which have been discarded by their users. Modern civilized society cannot move a step forward without electronic gadgets, and today's electronic gadgets are tomorrow's e-waste.

Used electronics that are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal are also considered e-waste. Sources of e-waste are TV, refrigerators, etc. resulting in an ever-increasing quantum of e-waste (Robinson, 2009). The management of e-waste is of paramount importance vis-à-vis the spurt of e-waste accumulation. What and what not are the sources of e-waste- large appliances like refrigerators, ovens, televisions small appliances like mobile phones, personal computers, laptops, pen drives, floppies, and iPads. E-waste is otherwise known as waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) or end-of-life (EOL) electronics.

Automated electronic appliances become are gaining more acceptability, as a result of which the discarded old ones add to the proportion of e-waste. Cheap electronic goods with low quality are also increasing e-waste. In 2005, the total amount of e-waste in the world was 1.5 Cr tons/year.

Informal processing of e-waste in developing countries can lead to adverse human health effects and environmental pollution. E-waste trading poses a serious threat to agriculture because agricultural land in big cities is used as open burning sites for the menland's e-waste and simple recycling workshops for second-hand e-waste trading. Persistent toxic substances (PTS) released due to e-waste recycling activities can be directly transferred to soil, then accumulated in plants, which will break the ecological balance. E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream with the 43.8 million tons (Mt) global quantity in 2015 and growing to 49.8  Mt in 2018 (Baldé et al., 2015).

The problem caused by e-waste has left the government of many countries with no other choice but developing sustainable management practices and collection schemes for e-waste management with a view to minimize environmental damage and maximize the reuse, recovery, and recycling of valuable materials. Dismantling and recycling of e-waste not only jeopardize the local environment and human health but also harm future generations.

In this chapter, we have discussed about the sources of e-wastes with their classification. E-waste is going to change the scenario of the whole world in every manner, be it environmental or ecological. The reasons for increase in e-waste are included in brief in the introduction. The challenges of e-waste have also been discussed here. Information regarding the continent-wise and country-wise generation of e-waste is incorporated. The common management aspects are mentioned here along with country-wise management systems and rules. Mainly the situations of the United States, Japan, China, and India have been mentioned. Special emphasis is given in the discussion of generation and management system of China and India. A gist of the Basel Convention has also been included. There are some suggestions to reduce e-waste accumulation. Last but not least the potential solution of using green energy to avoid the fatal consequences of e-waste has been discussed at the end of the chapter.

2. Sources of e-waste

The main sources of e-wastes are the obsolete electrical and electronic appliances:

(1) Waste generated from the products used for data processing such as computers, computer devices like monitors, speakers, keyboards, and printers.

(2) Electronic devices used for entertainment like cathode ray tube televisions, LCD TV, LED TV, DVDs, and CD players.

(3) Equipment or devices used for communication like mobile phones, landline phones, and fax. Household equipment like vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, washing machines, and air conditioners.

(4) Audio and visual components such as VCRs and stereo equipment.

Other sources of e-wastes are laptops, personal electronic devices, audio-video equipment, scanners, and copiers.

Electrical and electronic tools like toys, leisure and sports equipment, medical devices, monitoring, and control instrument are also sources of e-wastes.

The list of e-waste items is very huge and can be further expanded if we include other electronic waste originating from electrical goods such as lifts, refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, and kitchen utilities or even airplanes (Mundada et al., 2004).

3. Classification of e-waste

In general, e-waste is divided into five groups, based on materials or composition: (1) ferrous metals, (2) nonferrous metals, (3) glass, (4) plastics, and (5) others.

Iron and steel 50%, plastics 21%, nonferrous metal 13%, mercury, arsenic, lead, etc. are contained within e-wastes.

Household appliances are subdivided into two parts: (1) large household appliances and (2) small household appliances.

Balde et al. (2015) distinguished the electronic waste into six distinct categories:

1. Temperature exchange equipment: refrigerators, freezers, air conditioner, heat pump;

2. Screens and monitors: televisions, monitors, laptops, notebooks, tablets;

3. Lamps: fluorescent lamps, LED lamps, high-intensity discharge lamps;

4. Large equipment: washing machines, clothes dryers, electric stoves, large printing machines, copying machines, photovoltaic panels;

5. Small equipment: vacuum cleaners, toasters, microwaves, ventilation equipment, scales, calculators, radio, electric shavers, kettles, camera, toys, electronic tools, medical devices, small monitoring, and control equipment;

6. Small IT and telecommunication equipment: mobile phones, GPS, pocket calculators, routers, personal computers, printers, and telephones.

In India E-waste is categorized into two groups based on usage: (1) Information Technology and Telecommunication equipment; (2) Consumer electrical and electronics.

Yu et al. (2019) classify e-waste of Guiyu town, China into four categories: heavy metals, other inorganic pollutants, organic pollutants, and volatile organic compounds.

4. Challenges of e-wastes

The global disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) has become an alarming concern throughout the globe. Electronic devices, such as computers, mobile phones, and other electronic tools, as well as other nonelectronic products in the conventional sense, such as refrigerators or ovens, have been disposed of as waste with no target of reuse (Robinson, 2009). With the arrival of invasive computing, the distinction between WEEE and e-waste seems negligible (Kahhat et al., 2008; Kohler and Erdmann, 2004). The intermittent pouring in of improved electronic gadgets in the market motivates the people replacing their old ones but this spurts the accumulation of global e-wastes. The worst part is those electrical and electronic wastes do not degrade with time so easily at all. They contaminate soil and water by mixing directly. They can also contaminate air when they get burned and the air becomes very toxic.

Cucchiella et al. (2015) estimated the yearly growth percentage for the e-waste stream as 3%–5%, which is three times faster than other waste streams (Singh et al., 2016). A number of developed countries like the Unites States and Japan use the shores of developing and underdeveloped countries of Asia, where labor cost is cheaper and environmental laws are poorly enforced, for dumping their e-wastes posing a serious threat to these countries. Allowing this illegal exportation, these Asian countries get business opportunities and cheaper second-hand electronic goods at the cost of severe environmental damage. The exportation seems illegal because most of the receiving countries are parties of the Basel Convention, apart from the United States. Informal processing of e-waste in developing countries leads to adverse effects on human health and causes environmental pollution because an ill-equipped army of informal workers has been deployed to perform the processing.

4.1. Impact of hazardous substances on health and environment

Nonbiodegradable emissions from e-waste create environmental damage. Many of the substances in e-waste are poisonous and carcinogenic. The materials are complex and have been found to be hard to recycle in an environment friendly way because of health hazards. In developing countries like India, the effects are worse where people associated with recycling e-waste are mostly in the unorganized sector, living in the vicinity of dumps or landfills of unprocessed e-waste and working without any protection. PTS released due to e-waste recycling activities can be directly transferred to soil, then accumulated in plants, which break the ecological balance, and contaminate our food crops (Malkoske et al., 2016; Shang et al., 2013; Wu et al., 2008), as many e-waste recycling workshops and dumping sites are close to former and existing farmland.

E-waste pollutes the air, water, and the land near the dumping ground. Kidney, liver, bones, endocrine system, nervous system, and heart muscle get affected. Hormonal problems and cancer are also caused by e-wastes. Highly toxic gases like CO, CFC, TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin), other dioxins, and furan get mixed in the air while burning. Radioactive rays also release from e-waste. The harmful effects of it on the human body are being carried from one generation to another. Dreadful diseases like DNA damage, lung cancer, damage to the heart and spleen, chronic damage to the brain, and asthmatic bronchitis are the various effects caused by e-waste. The toxic chemicals that get mixed in land from the dumping of e-waste easily get access to our body through soil-crop-food pathway. First, these poisonous metals find their way into the food chain through marine life and from there to the human body throwing it on the verge of risk. Health hazards connected to e-waste may generate from the direct contact with harmful materials, such as copper, zinc, lead, cadmium, brominated flame retardants, or polychlorinated biphenyls, from inhalation of toxic fumes, as well as from accumulation of toxic substances in soil, water, and food. The harmful effects of lead are manifold on the human body. It damages the central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, and kidneys. It also affects the brain development