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E-Waste and Children’s Health

Tackle e-waste challenges by understanding its dangers and implementing solutions to protect future generations.

885 enrolled on this course

Woman with four children
  • Duration

    2 weeks
  • Weekly study

    4 hours
  • Languages

    English, Italiano, Español, Français, PortuguêsEnglish, Italiano, Español
  • 100% online

    How it works
  • Digital upgrade

    Free
  • Accreditation

    AvailableMore info
The CPD Certification Service

This course has been certified by the CPD Certification Service as conforming to continuing professional development principles. Find out more.

Examine the health risks of e-waste and learn prevention strategies

Electronic waste (e-waste) is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time, with far-reaching impacts on the environment and public health, especially for children.

This online course offers a unique opportunity to explore the complexities of e-waste, its toxic hazards, and the steps we can take to safeguard vulnerable communities.

Understand the global e-waste crisis

Begin by exploring what e-waste is, where it comes from, and how it moves across the globe. You’ll examine the trends in informal e-waste recycling and its environmental consequences.

This foundational knowledge will help you grasp the scale of the problem and its implications for communities worldwide.

Explore the health risks of e-waste

Dive into the toxic hazards of e-waste and how improper recycling practices expose children to harmful chemicals.

Learn about the routes of exposure, from foetal development to childhood, and the adverse health outcomes linked to these toxic substances. This part of the course will deepen your understanding of the urgent need for action.

Discover solutions to protect children

Highlight the interventions and strategies being implemented globally to combat e-waste’s impact on children. From local initiatives to international policies, you’ll explore practical ways to prevent exposure and create safer environments.

By the end of the course, you’ll be empowered to contribute to meaningful change in your community and beyond.

EIT Advanced Materials Academy Logo

Skip to 0 minutes and 0 seconds E-waste is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the world. Millions of tons are discarded every year. And this number is only rising. But e-waste is far more than just unwanted gadgets. It’s a global health crisis, especially for children. Improper recycling releases dangerous chemicals like lead, mercury, and persistent organic pollutants into our air, soil, and water. This puts children at serious risk both now and for generations to come. In this course, you’ll learn what e-waste is, how it affects children’s health, and why action is urgent. We’ll explore real world examples from contaminated communities to successful interventions. We’ll also highlight the unique risks children face from direct exposure to hazardous substances to the long-term impacts on their development.

Skip to 0 minutes and 45 seconds You’ll discover practical ways healthcare workers and communities can recognize, reduce, and prevent these risks. Together, we’ll examine strategies for safer recycling, the importance of international agreements, and the vital role everyone can play. Join us as we tackle this critical issue because every child deserves a safe and healthy future.

Syllabus

  • Week 1

    E-waste and children's health

    • Welcome to the course

      Welcome to the first week of our course! In this introduction, we will lay the foundation for understanding the health risks associated with harmful substances in improperly recycled materials.

    • What's the problem with e-waste?

      In this activity we discuss why e-waste is a global problem.

    • E-waste and toxicity

      In this section, you’ll learn about the different sources of e-waste and how inappropriate recycling is hazardous to health.

    • E-waste and health effects

      In this section, we explore associations between exposure to hazardous substances from inappropriate e-waste recycling activities and adverse health outcomes.

    • End of week 1

      In this section, we reflect on what was learnt in week 1 and look forward to week 2.

  • Week 2

    Protecting children and their families from the harmful effects of e-waste

    • Welcome to week 2

      In this section, we look at some of the challenges of tackling e-waste and the role of healthcare workers.

    • Exposure and impacts on children

      In this section, we examine how children's exposure to hazardous substances in e-waste can occur in various settings and the impact it may have.

    • Example interventions

      In this section, we look at some interventions taking place around the world, to help combat the impact of e-waste on children.

    • Management and prevention

      In this section, we look at how addressing the challenges of e-waste requires multiple interventions.

    • Quiz and recap

      You have come to the end of this week, let's see what you remember.

Who is this accredited by?

The CPD Certification Service
The CPD Certification Service:

The CPD Certification Service was established in 1996 and is the leading independent CPD accreditation institution operating across industry sectors to complement the CPD policies of professional and academic bodies.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Describe the definition of e-waste, its origins, and its global movement.
  • Explain the potential toxic hazards in e-waste and assess the risks they pose to children.
  • Explore various exposure scenarios to identify how, where, and when children are at risk of toxic exposure from e-waste.
  • Discuss diseases linked to acute and chronic exposure to hazardous chemicals in e-waste.
  • Assess international actions and local interventions aimed at preventing children’s toxic exposures to e-waste.
  • Reflect on strategies to mitigate the risks associated with e-waste and promote safer practices globally.

Who is the course for?

This course is for anyone passionate about tackling the global e-waste crisis and protecting children’s health. You’ll gain practical knowledge to drive meaningful change, from identifying risks to implementing solutions.

Who will you learn with?

Who developed the course?

EIT RawMaterials

Initiated and funded by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology), a body of the European Union, EIT RawMaterials is the largest European raw materials partnership.

Basel Convention Secretariat

The Basel Convention Secretariat is joint with the Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Secretariats and it is hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/BRS Secretariat). The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal is a global Multilateral Environmental Agreement aiming to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects which may result from the generation and management of hazardous and other wastes.

World Health Organization

The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations which coordinates responses to international public health issues and emergencies. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has 6 regional offices and 150 field offices worldwide.

What's included?

EIT RawMaterials are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

  • Unlimited access to this course
  • Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • Tests to validate your learning
  • A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible
  • Learning on FutureLearn

    Your learning, your rules

    • Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
    • Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
    • Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores

    Join a global classroom

    • Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
    • Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
    • Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others

    Map your progress

    • As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
    • Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
    • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

    Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

    Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...

    You can use the hashtag #EwasteChallenge to talk about this course on social media.