Los residuos electrónicos y su impacto en los derechos humanos

This report by the Center for International Environmental Law examines the human rights impacts of electronic waste (e-waste), focusing on the toxic substances released during informal recycling and their effects on health, food security, and labor rights, particularly in developing nations.

• Electronic waste contains a variety of hazardous materials that cause severe health issues. Arsenic and beryllium are known human carcinogens; lead is a potent neurotoxin that can cause brain disorders in children; and mercury targets the central nervous system and can cause kidney damage. Other toxins include cadmium, which causes kidney disease and bone fragility, and hexavalent chromium, which can damage DNA.
• Global e-waste generation was approximately 41.8 teratonnes (Tm) in 2014, comprising various categories such as large equipment (11.8 Tm), small equipment (12.8 Tm), and screens and monitors (6.3 Tm). This volume was projected to increase to 49.8 Tm by 2018, with an annual growth rate between 4% and 5%.
• Informal e-waste recycling in Guiyu, China, has led to extreme environmental contamination and severe health crises. Residents have experienced high incidences of skin damage, chronic gastritis, and gastric ulcers. A study indicated that the risk of stillbirth in Guiyu was approximately four times higher than in the control site of Xiamen (1.03%).
• E-waste contamination threatens the right to food through the accumulation of toxins in the environment and food chain. In South China, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from recycling activities were found in plants at concentrations between 199 and 2,420 ng/g. These contaminants can bioaccumulate in grazing animals and be excreted in edible products like milk and eggs.
• Child labor in e-waste recycling is categorized as one of the worst forms of child labor due to its hazardous nature. In Ghana, children are primarily involved in manual dismantling and incineration, facing risks of heavy metal poisoning and respiratory infections. In Guiyu, China, it is estimated that 80% of children suffer from respiratory diseases, alongside increased rates of leukemia and blood lead levels.
• Workers in the informal e-waste sector, particularly in India, face extreme occupational hazards. Many are unskilled migrants or marginalized individuals, including women and children, who work 12 to 14 hours a day without personal protective equipment. They use dangerous methods such as open incineration to separate copper from plastic and acid leaching, which releases arsenic, chromium, and lead into the environment.
• Lack of information and labeling regarding toxic components leads to improper waste disposal. In the Philippines, 88% of households dispose of mercury-containing lamps with domestic waste, and only 1% sell them to the informal recycling sector. Conversely, the European Union's RoHS directive restricts six hazardous materials in electronics to ensure safer end-of-life management.

APA

Center for International Environmental Law (n.d.). Los residuos electrónicos y su impacto en los derechos humanos. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR_EWaste_SPA.pdf

Chicago

Center for International Environmental Law. Los residuos electrónicos y su impacto en los derechos humanos. n.d. https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR_EWaste_SPA.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for International Environmental Law |title=Los residuos electrónicos y su impacto en los derechos humanos |url=https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR_EWaste_SPA.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforinternationalenvironmentallawndlos, author = {{Center for International Environmental Law}}, title = {{Los residuos electrónicos y su impacto en los derechos humanos}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, url = {https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/HR_EWaste_SPA.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }