The African environment and the human health of Africans suffer from toxic chemicals and imported wastes more than in developed countries, with the continent becoming the destination of illegal toxic waste exports.
This study reveals the widespread contamination of consumer products in Africa, with 16% of 244 sampled items from seven countries classified as hazardous waste due to toxic chemicals like BFRs derived from recycled e-waste and end-of-life vehicles.
Samples from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania and Tunisia were analysed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and one-fifth of all 244 samples were sent for special chemical analysis, based on the total content of bromine and antimony, because bromine and antimony content is an indication that black plastic may contain BFRs.