Wachsende Gesundheitsgefahr: Elektroschrott in Ghana

Zusammenfassung

Die Entsorgung von Elektroschrott in Entwicklungs- und Schwellenländern ist ein zunehmendes Gesundheitsproblem. Die Elektroschrotthalde in Agbogbloshie, einem Stadtteil von Ghanas Hauptstadt Accra, ist eine der größten in Afrika und weltweit. Dort werden die Geräte unter einfachsten Bedingungen ausgeschlachtet und die Reste offen verbrannt, um Metalle von unbrauchbaren Plastikmaterialien zu trennen. Dabei wird ein gefährlicher Giftcocktail freigesetzt, der zahlreiche Schwermetalle, zum Beispiel Blei, Quecksilber und Kadmium sowie organische Toxine, zum Beispiel Dioxine und Furane, enthält. Viele dieser Toxine konnten in Proben der Arbeiter in zum Teil bedrohlich hohen Konzentrationen nachgewiesen werden. Vor allem für Kinder sind bei einer solchen Exposition erhebliche Gesundheits- und Entwicklungsstörungen zu erwarten. Stärkere Kontrollen der Transportwege zur Verhinderung von illegalen Elektroschrottexporten und die Einführung von umweltfreundlicheren und zugleich wirtschaftlicheren Recyclingmethoden sind erforderlich, um die Lebensbedingungen in Agbogbloshie und anderen Elektroschrotthalden zu verbessern.

Abstract

The informal recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) in low and middle income countries is an emerging health thread. The e-waste dump Agbogbloshie is one of the largest in Africa and worldwide. Using primitive recycling methods, including open burning of cables and equipment in order to recover metals, results in the emission of a multitude of toxins in high concentrations, exposing workers and communities. Toxins include a variety of heavy metals as lead, mercury and cadmium, as well as organic toxins like dioxins and furans. A number of those toxins could be detected in high concentrations in biological samples of e-waste workers. Especially for children, such exposure is likely to result in severe consequences for health and development. Improved controls of transportation routes to prevent illegal export of e-waste, as well as the introduction of environmentally compatible and more efficient recycling techniques are required in order to improve living conditions in Agbogbloshie and similar sites.

Key words

electronic waste - e-waste - Agbogbloshie - Ghana - lead - dioxins - furans

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