Purchase, DianeDianePurchaseAbbasi, GolnoushGolnoushAbbasiBisschop, LieselotLieselotBisschopChatterjee, DebashishDebashishChatterjeeEkberg, ChristianChristianEkbergErmolin, MikhailMikhailErmolinFedotov, PetrPetrFedotovGarelick, HemdaHemdaGarelickIsimekhai, KhadijahKhadijahIsimekhaiKandile, Nadia G.Nadia G.KandileLundström, MariMariLundströmMatharu, AvtarAvtarMatharuMiller, Bradley W.Bradley W.MillerPineda, AntonioAntonioPinedaPopoola, Oluseun E.Oluseun E.PopoolaRetegan, TeodoraTeodoraReteganRuedel, HeinzHeinzRuedelSerpe, AngelaAngelaSerpeSheva, YehudaYehudaShevaSurati, Kiran R.Kiran R.SuratiWalsh, FionaFionaWalshWilson, Benjamin P.Benjamin P.WilsonWong, Ming HungMing HungWong2022-03-062022-03-062020https://publica.fraunhofer.de/handle/publica/26407610.1515/pac-2019-05022-s2.0-85092045460The waste stream of obsolete electronic equipment grows exponentially, creating a worldwide pollution and resource problem. Electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) comprises a heterogeneous mix of glass, plastics (including flame retardants and other additives), metals (including rare Earth elements), and metalloids. The e-waste issue is complex and multi-faceted. In examining the different aspects of e-waste, informal recycling in developing countries has been identified as a primary concern, due to widespread illegal shipments; weak environmental, as well as health and safety, regulations; lack of technology; and inadequate waste treatment structure. For example, Nigeria, Ghana, India, Pakistan, and China have all been identified as hotspots for the disposal of e-waste. This article presents a critical examination on the chemical nature of e-waste and the resulting environmental impacts on, for example, microbial biodiversity, flora, and fauna in e-waste recycling sites around the world. It highlights the different types of risk assessment approaches required when evaluating the ecological impact of e-waste. Additionally, it presents examples of chemistry playing a role in potential solutions. The information presented here will be informative to relevant stakeholders seeking to devise integrated management strategies to tackle this global environmental concern.enchemical compositionecological assessmentenvironmental impactse-wasterecycling540journal article