The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said more than 18 million children and adolescents globally are being exposed to toxic e-waste.
The global organisation, which noted that some of the affected children are as young as 5 years, gave the statistics on Tuesday during the launch of its first report on e-waste and child health.
The report, which is titled; “Children and Digital Dumpsites,” noted that the affected children are actively engaged in the informal industrial sector, one of which waste processing is a sub-sector.
The health agency said 12.9 million women are working in the informal waste sector, which it noted potentially exposes them to toxic e-waste and puts them and their unborn children at risk.
It noted that children are often engaged by parents or caregivers in e-waste recycling because their small hands are more dexterous than those of adults.
WHO also said; “Other children live, go to school and play near e-waste recycling centres where high levels of toxic chemicals, mostly lead and mercury, can damage their intellectual abilities.
“Children exposed to e-waste are particularly vulnerable to the toxic chemicals they contain due to their smaller size, less developed organs and rapid rate of growth and development.
“They absorb more pollutants relative to their size and are less able to metabolise or eradicate toxic substances from their bodies.”
The WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said the world faces a mounting problem of e-waste which is putting many lives and health at risk.
