A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment
The outcome of improper electronic waste management is an environmental and epidemiological catastrophe; therefore, its management has become crucial given the increase in e-waste generation. Global e-waste output eclipsed 52 million metric tonnes in 2020, growing at 3% per annum. The United Nations...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
GJESM Publisher
2022-10-01
|
| Series: | Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.gjesm.net/article_251174_74bc4e0ac66c4497baa6922dc5759398.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818755565516488704 |
|---|---|
| author | M. Maphosa V. Maphosa |
| author_facet | M. Maphosa V. Maphosa |
| author_sort | M. Maphosa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The outcome of improper electronic waste management is an environmental and epidemiological catastrophe; therefore, its management has become crucial given the increase in e-waste generation. Global e-waste output eclipsed 52 million metric tonnes in 2020, growing at 3% per annum. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 12 highlights that only 20% of the generated e-waste was properly recycled, with the remainder indiscriminately disposed of. There has been considerable growth in publications on e-waste and the environment over the past few decades. This study provides an overview of the research landscape on the impact of e-waste on the environment using bibliometric analysis. VOSviewer software is used to visualise the current trends and the recent hotspots. It is observed that the research hotspots in the field are: soil, health, environmental impact, recovery, electronic equipment, and waste electrical and electronic equipment. By tracing the evolutionary research pathway, it is clear that the research hotspots have shifted focus to e-waste generation, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, and circular economy. A total of 141 articles on e-waste and the environment published between 2003 and 2021 were selected for the study. The publication and citation analysis showed a steady increase in publications and citations. China dominates with a third of articles published by authors, followed by India and the United States. Developing countries contributed about 17% of total publications. The articles retrieved were cited 5290 times and had an h-index of 39. Finally, using network analysis techniques, four key themes are identified. The first theme relates to the strategies employed in recovering minerals from e-waste. The second theme focuses on the concentration levels of the heavy minerals found in e-waste. The third theme visualises the impact of e-waste on health, and finally, the fourth theme highlights the effects of e-waste on the environment. The study adds valuable insights to the body of literature in hazardous and toxic substances management. No studies were found chronicling the environmental effects of e-waste using bibliometric analysis. In light of the Sustainable Development Goals, further research needs to be undertaken, and these findings serve as a baseline for policymakers and scholars as more management strategies and policies are enacted. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T05:41:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7851779b12914c7986958d2b61ab786c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2383-3572 2383-3866 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T05:41:10Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
| publisher | GJESM Publisher |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-7851779b12914c7986958d2b61ab786c2022-12-21T21:19:10ZengGJESM PublisherGlobal Journal of Environmental Science and Management2383-35722383-38662022-10-018459361010.22034/GJESM.2022.04.10251174A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environmentM. Maphosa0V. Maphosa1School of Information Technology, Varsity College, Independent Institute of Education, Sandton, South AfricaInformation Communication and Technology Services Department, Lupane State University, Bulawayo, ZimbabweThe outcome of improper electronic waste management is an environmental and epidemiological catastrophe; therefore, its management has become crucial given the increase in e-waste generation. Global e-waste output eclipsed 52 million metric tonnes in 2020, growing at 3% per annum. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 12 highlights that only 20% of the generated e-waste was properly recycled, with the remainder indiscriminately disposed of. There has been considerable growth in publications on e-waste and the environment over the past few decades. This study provides an overview of the research landscape on the impact of e-waste on the environment using bibliometric analysis. VOSviewer software is used to visualise the current trends and the recent hotspots. It is observed that the research hotspots in the field are: soil, health, environmental impact, recovery, electronic equipment, and waste electrical and electronic equipment. By tracing the evolutionary research pathway, it is clear that the research hotspots have shifted focus to e-waste generation, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, and circular economy. A total of 141 articles on e-waste and the environment published between 2003 and 2021 were selected for the study. The publication and citation analysis showed a steady increase in publications and citations. China dominates with a third of articles published by authors, followed by India and the United States. Developing countries contributed about 17% of total publications. The articles retrieved were cited 5290 times and had an h-index of 39. Finally, using network analysis techniques, four key themes are identified. The first theme relates to the strategies employed in recovering minerals from e-waste. The second theme focuses on the concentration levels of the heavy minerals found in e-waste. The third theme visualises the impact of e-waste on health, and finally, the fourth theme highlights the effects of e-waste on the environment. The study adds valuable insights to the body of literature in hazardous and toxic substances management. No studies were found chronicling the environmental effects of e-waste using bibliometric analysis. In light of the Sustainable Development Goals, further research needs to be undertaken, and these findings serve as a baseline for policymakers and scholars as more management strategies and policies are enacted.https://www.gjesm.net/article_251174_74bc4e0ac66c4497baa6922dc5759398.pdfelectrical and electronic equipmentelectronic wasteenvironmenthealthrecyclewaste management |
| spellingShingle | M. Maphosa V. Maphosa A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management electrical and electronic equipment electronic waste environment health recycle waste management |
| title | A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment |
| title_full | A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment |
| title_fullStr | A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment |
| title_short | A bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment |
| title_sort | bibliometric analysis of the effects of electronic waste on the environment |
| topic | electrical and electronic equipment electronic waste environment health recycle waste management |
| url | https://www.gjesm.net/article_251174_74bc4e0ac66c4497baa6922dc5759398.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mmaphosa abibliometricanalysisoftheeffectsofelectronicwasteontheenvironment AT vmaphosa abibliometricanalysisoftheeffectsofelectronicwasteontheenvironment AT mmaphosa bibliometricanalysisoftheeffectsofelectronicwasteontheenvironment AT vmaphosa bibliometricanalysisoftheeffectsofelectronicwasteontheenvironment |