International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health· 2019Q1· Review
Waste Mismanagement in Developing Countries: A Review of Global Issues
- 2,221citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2019year
Short summary
Open dumping and burning are primary waste disposal methods in low-income countries, leading to pervasive environmental contamination (marine litter, air, soil, water) and significant health risks for informal waste scavengers.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Key points
- Open dumping and burning are the dominant waste treatment methods in developing countries.
- Environmental impacts include marine litter, air, soil, and water contamination.
- Informal waste scavengers face significant health risks from direct contact with hazardous waste.
- Waste mismanagement affects population health and sustainable development globally.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Environmental contamination due to solid waste mismanagement is a global issue. Open dumping and open burning are the main implemented waste treatment and final disposal systems, mainly visible in low-income countries. This paper reviews the main impacts due to waste mismanagement in developing countries, focusing on environmental contamination and social issues. The activity of the informal sector in developing cities was also reviewed, focusing on the main health risks due to waste scavenging. Results reported that the environmental impacts are pervasive worldwide: marine litter, air, soil and water contamination, and the direct interaction of waste pickers with hazardous waste are the most important issues. Many reviews were published in the scientific literature about specific waste streams, in order to quantify its effect on the environment. This narrative literature review assessed global issues due to different waste fractions showing how several sources of pollution are affecting the environment, population health, and sustainable development. The results and case studies presented can be of reference for scholars and stakeholders for quantifying the comprehensive impacts and for planning integrated solid waste collection and treatment systems, for improving sustainability at a global level.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019 · DOI ↗
Continue with a free account
Ask the paper: 3 free questions a day about this paper; save it, get its citation, new summaries every day for your field. Takeaways are Premium.
Continue free on the webSign in with Google or Apple; no card needed. You come back to this paper.
On your phone:
Field: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational HealthMedicine