Health Risks of Unsafe Recycling

How burning cables and using acid to extract metals exposes workers and neighbours to lead, mercury and toxic fumes, and the costs to children's health.

Unsafe e-waste recycling carries serious health risks.

Toxic substances

Lead in old monitors and solder.
Mercury in some lamps and switches.
Cadmium and brominated flame retardants.

Unsafe methods

Burning cables to recover copper releases toxic fumes.
Acid baths to dissolve gold release harmful chemicals.
Dumping residues into drains.

Health effects

Respiratory problems.
Lead poisoning, especially harmful to children’s brain development.
Skin diseases.

Children

Children in informal recycling areas may work or play near toxic materials.

WHO warning

The WHO has warned that millions of children and women working in informal waste sectors are exposed to e-waste risks.

Economic view

Informal recycling looks cheap but imposes large hidden health costs.

The burning pile

Workers burn a pile of cables at night to recover copper, sending black smoke over nearby homes.

Thinking informal recycling is harmless because it recycles

Unsafe methods cause serious health harm.

Key takeaways

E-waste contains lead, mercury and cadmium.
Burning and acid baths are unsafe.
Children face lead poisoning risks.
Informal recycling has hidden health costs.