eWASTE EFFECTS ON HUMANS & CLIMATE IN ZAMBIA
With new technological advancements in the recent years, we have witnessed rapid increase in the number of mobile subscribers, internet service providers, data operators and internet users. This is primarily being as a result of cheap, available original and counterfeit devices on the Zambian market.
These devices have short life spans and this pose challenges on appropriate methods to dispose of used electronic products without destroying environment, jeopardize people’s health and without loss of data and information stored in these products. Additionally, it’s unfortunate that this inflow of electronic products caught our government, private organizations and the public at large unprepared on how to safely and economically dispose of used electronic products. This has eventually left piles of unattended to used electronic products both in streets and in office stores.
Most Zambians have little or no information on what electronic waste is and what effects it has on our environment. eWaste consists of discarded electronic appliances of which computers and mobile phones make the great contribution due to their short life span, in addition to its damaging effects to the environment researches have shown that, eWaste has damaging impacts (effects) to human health. The effects of eWaste to human health and well-being includes: respiratory problems, oxidative stress, DNA damage and the possibility of causing cancer. The reasons for the damaging effects to human health and environment of eWaste is caused by its chemical and physical characteristics which sets it apart from other forms of wastes that are produced by human activities or industrial wastes. eWastes contain both hazardous substances.
[Photo]The image shows a copier carelessly disposed of at one of the colleges in Lusaka (Photo by: Albert Bulaka)
With regard to the challenge at hand “Climate change” eWaste contains contaminants such as heavy metals like copper which are used in manufacturing of electronic components. Other contaminants are those which are the results of disposal of eWaste through fire. An example is Poly cyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are generated when electronic waste is burnt. E-Waste also contains some components which are distinct from other forms of wastes, and examples of these include batteries such as lithium batteries, contact materials and fire retardants. With nearly 10 million mobile subscribers we are looking at nearly 20million active mobile devices with lithium batteries, with the current trend of two to three devices per person, this means in the next 2–3 years Zambia will contribute to the millions of tons of eWaste generated by the world and the UNEP estimates that by the year 2020, domestic television eWaste will double, computer e-Waste will increase five times, and cell phones 18 times.
Currently, Zambia has no eWaste management specific legislation, nonetheless according to Zambia Environment Management Agency (ZEMA) legislation's are being developed that will deal specifically with the increasingly important stream of e-Waste. Building up an adequate policy and regulatory framework that comprehensively addresses eWaste. The review of existing literature shows that Zambia has no specific policy or regulation related to e-Waste management.
However, there are a number of policies and regulations which aim at protecting the environment and human settlements. Examples of these policies are: Public Health Act of 1978, Local Government Act of 1991, and Ionizing Radiation Act of 1975, among others. The review of these different policies reveals that there is a need for eWaste specific policies to address the different challenges and issues of e-Waste management. There are also a number of regulations and laws that provides an institutional framework for a sustainable management of the environment in general. Among others, the Environmental Management Act no. 12 of 2011, is the cornerstone legislation in Zambia.
With great disappointment it is noticed that there are a lot of ICT literacy programs being implemented (e.g. ICT in primary schools) with little or no sensitization programs or curriculum on eWaste. Looking at Zambia, eWaste management is unavailable, the amount of contaminants that could have been averted from leaking to the environment and jeopardize human health and the planet at large is increasing as raising awareness programs could reduce contaminants. Also, since most of the dumping methods used by Zambians (i.e. the users of these electronic devices) either use fire or landfills, large amount of these contaminants end in landfills resulting in high concentration that leak out into the environment and adversely affect the environment and human health.
