Self reported practice of e-waste disposal and awareness about its health hazards among people at various levels in selected urban slums of Bangalore: a cross sectional study

Authors

  • Shanmugapriya Duraisamy Department of Community Medicine, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  • Ramakrishna Reddy Narayanappa Department of Community Medicine, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka
  • Ranganath Timmanahalli Sobagiah Department of Community Medicine, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20172192

Keywords:

E waste, Disposal practice, Health hazards, Knowledge

Abstract

Background: With advent of advancement in technologies and change in people’s life style, the amount of E-waste (electronic waste) generated is increasing drastically every year, Mismanagement of these E-waste leads to diminishing natural resources, causing irreparable damage to the environment and health of the people. When it comes to the reduction, the onus is on both the consumer and the producer. Proper awareness on the health hazards and disposal practice of E waste plays a crucial role in curbing this problem. The objectives of the study were to assess the E-waste segregation and disposal practice at various levels and to assess the knowledge about Proper disposal and health hazards of E-waste.

Methods: A community based crossed sectional study was conducted among 120 randomly selected individuals (distribution, consumer and waste collection level) for a period of three months in the urban field practice area of Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute. Data regarding their knowledge and practice on E-waste disposal and its hazards has been collected using semi structured questionnaire and analysed using SPSS 23.0.

Results: Knowledge about disposal was found to be 20%, 15% and 5% respectively at distribution, consumer and waste collector levels. Only around 6% had practiced proper waste segregation. Knowledge pertaining to health hazards were found to be negligible.

Conclusions: With the increased burden the knowledge and practice were found to be highly inadequate. And it is a high time to intervene at the earliest by creating proper awareness and providing the requisite for proper disposal of E waste. 

 

Author Biography

Shanmugapriya Duraisamy, Department of Community Medicine, Bangalore Medical College & Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka

post graduate, 

dept of community medicine

References

What is e-waste? - Step 2014. Step-initiative.org. 2017. Available at: http://www.step-initiative.org/what-is-ewaste.html. Accessed on 4 March 2017.

Solving the E-Waste Problem (Step) White Paper One Global Definition of E-waste. 1st ed. Step White Paper Series; 2014. Available at: http://www.stepinitiative.org/files/step/_documents/StEP_WP_One%20Global%20Definition%20of%20E-waste_20140603_amended.pdf. Accessed on 4 March 2017.

Nair S. E-waste in India: Mumbai leads, followed by Delhi and Bangalore – Tech2. 2015. Available at: http://tech.firstpost.com/news-analysis/e-waste-in-india-mumbai-leads-followed-by-delhi-and-bangalore-273476.html. Accessed on 14 March 2017.

Pandit V. India’s e-waste growing at 30% annually. THE HINDU, Business line. 2017. Available at: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/india-likely-to-generate-52-million-tonnes-of-ewaste-by-2020-study/article8686442.ece. Accessed on 4 March 2017.

Shah A. An Assessment of Public Awareness Regarding E-Waste Hazards and Management Strategies. Available on: http://digitalcollections.sit. edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2832&context=isp_collection. Accessed on 24 March 2017.

Children's environmental health- Electronic waste. World Health Organization. 2017. Available on http://www.who.int/ceh/risks/ewaste/en/. Accessed on 2 April 2017.

Bhat V, Patil Y. E-waste consciousness and disposal practices among residents of Pune city. Procedia - Social Behavioral Sci. 2014;133:491-8.

Kalana J. Electrical and Electronic Waste Management Practice by households in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. Int J Environ Sci. 2010;1(2):132-44.

Huang P, Zhang X, Deng X. Survey and analysis of public environmental awareness and performance in Ningbo, China: a case study on household electrical and electronic equipment. J Cleaner Production. 2006;14(18):1635-43.

Downloads

Published

2017-05-22

How to Cite

Duraisamy, S., Narayanappa, R. R., & Sobagiah, R. T. (2017). Self reported practice of e-waste disposal and awareness about its health hazards among people at various levels in selected urban slums of Bangalore: a cross sectional study. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 4(6), 2146–2150. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20172192

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles