What e-waste does to air, water, and workers
A community teach-in mapped how informal burning and acid baths harm lungs, soil, and livelihoods.
Residents documented smoke patterns near dump sites, mapped wind directions, and logged which days burning was most frequent. Facilitators explained which components release toxic fumes when heated and how acids leach into groundwater, tying each hazard to visible symptoms people already felt at home.
The group collected water samples from wells and drainage canals and compared them to safe-handling guidance. Stories from workers and caregivers grounded the conversation in lived reality, and a health worker outlined immediate steps for reducing exposure—masking, avoiding open-air burning, and segregating batteries and circuit boards.
The session ended with a neighborhood plan: a phone tree for safe drop-off referrals, a public map of certified recyclers, and a monthly teach-in to track progress. Several families committed to host sorting stations and to report illegal dumping through the hotline.