A Study on Heavy Metal Contamination in Workers Handling Electronic Waste in North India

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Year : 2025 | Volume : 15 | Issue : 02 | Page :
    By

    Stephen Monday,

  • Atul Khajuria,

  • Eric Kwasi Elliason,

  • Gagan,

  • J. Samuel Kamanda,

Abstract

Background
E-waste contains hazardous substances like leads, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic which can be harmful for informal workers and recyclers. In North India, one finds an informal sector of e-waste workers who work in extremely micro-manageable conditions with lack of order policy and protective equipment. This study explores the processes and cavities of heavy metals as well as assessing the knowledge, safety measures, and health symptoms of the reclaimers.
Objectives
• To analyze the awareness concerning the pollution of heavy metals amongst e-waste workers.
• To determine their degree of professional exposure and the safety precautions undertaken in the handling of e-waste.
• To compile the common clinical manifestations resulting from heavy metal poisoning within this population.
• To formulate strategies to enhance workplace safety and health surveillance.
Methods
A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed targeting all the workers participating in informal e-waste work at selected sites in North India. Using Cochran’s formula, a sample of 384 respondents was selected from a total population of 12,000, estimating a 5% margin of error at 95% confidence level. Each respondent completed a structured questionnaire that collected information on demographics, occupational exposure, knowledge of safety and health practices, and symptoms associated with exposure to hazardous materials.
To assess the relationships between variables, descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted.
Results
As a preliminary result, 68.2% of the participants did not know the health risks related to heavy metals present in e-waste, while only 21.7% of participants reported using PPE regularly. Commonly self-reported symptoms included headaches (45.1 percent), skin irritation (32.4%), respiratory ailments (28.7 percent), and fatigue (54.3 percent). There was a statistically significant association (p < 0.05) between exposure time and the rate of health complaints.
Conclusion
The results reveal a severe degree of occupational e-waste related heavy metal exposure and concomitantly low knowledge and safety behavior in North India e-waste workers. There is urgency for health education and the provision of PPE, regular health check-ups, and greater control of informal e-waste businesses to lower health risks.

Keywords: Electronic waste, heavy metals, occupational exposure, North India, health risks, e-waste workers, informal sector, contamination, safety practices, awareness.

[This article belongs to OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal ]

How to cite this article:
Stephen Monday, Atul Khajuria, Eric Kwasi Elliason, Gagan, J. Samuel Kamanda. A Study on Heavy Metal Contamination in Workers Handling Electronic Waste in North India. OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal. 2025; 15(02):-.
How to cite this URL:
Stephen Monday, Atul Khajuria, Eric Kwasi Elliason, Gagan, J. Samuel Kamanda. A Study on Heavy Metal Contamination in Workers Handling Electronic Waste in North India. OmniScience: A Multi-disciplinary Journal. 2025; 15(02):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/osmj/article=2025/view=214877


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Regular Issue Subscription Original Research
Volume 15
Issue 02
Received 21/04/2025
Accepted 25/05/2025
Published 26/06/2025
Publication Time 66 Days
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