Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

This manuscript addresses the problem of the  impact of e-waste on children in Africa by integrating two approaches : a review of the relevant  international scientific literature and  an analysis of its socioeconomic and regulatory determinants. The integration of the two approaches provides a frame in which preventive measures can be designed and implemented inasmuch as the international community will consistently take action.   Each of the two main issues at stake in this manuscript are the object of a thorough analysis and discussion. This paper undoubtly bridges the gap between knowledge and action, in a way that represents an innovative and consequential  environmental health  strategy.   While the paper appears to be quite suitable for publication, the introduction of two  specific additional points might ​enhance the consistency of the paper itself and the efficacy of the message, The two points that would each deserve a (brief) statement are the following:   a) The paper deals with the health impact of e-waste, which is part of the more general issue of hazardous waste and human health. An introductory  sentence that clarifies this issue, with a few  pivotal bibliographic references, might help the reader to envision the connection between the specific domain of e-waste, object of the present paper,  and the wider range of  studies dealing with trafficking and management of hazardous waste, which also is, to some extent, object of scientific investigation , preventive action and regulatory efforts.   b) Given  the proximity between Africa and Europe, and the ascertained role of several European countries in contributing to e-waste penetration in Africa, a specific mention of the Ostrava Declaration (Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health of the 53 Countries of the WHO  European Region) appears to be warranted.    

Author Response

We have added two paragraphs to the introduction introducing the global problem of different wastes generated by human activity.  This was an excellent suggestion and improves the flow of the manuscript.

We have also added the Ostrava Declaration to the list of conventions and presented the details in the same fashion as for the other entries.

Reviewer 2 Report

Lines 157-158 The number of different substances in e-wastes can be emphasized by several references: Prasad M.N.V., Vithanage M., Borthakur A., Handbook of Electronic Waste Management, 1st Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann, 2019 or Needhidasan S, Samuel M, Chidambaram R. Electronic waste - an emerging threat to the environment of urban India. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2014 Jan 20;12(1).

Line 473 ”... for many rural and urban poor” may require a subject like poor part of the population.

Line 476 ”... profitable bisiness in Ghana” change to business

Line 487 ” ... will continue to be the dumping site of e-waste by developed countries” can be more clear changing to:  ”... will continue to be considered ... ”

Line 501 Table 2 header Africa could be kept unseparated as new line(not as Af-rica)

Lines 516-517 ”... The Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Trans-516 boundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa” it may be considered to add that this convention was established in 1991.

Line 550 ”... burn cables in order to recover copper than stripping the cables to recover same” may be changed to: ”burning cables is a cheapper and faster way of recovering copper than stripping them”.

Line 692 ”... and the short lives of many items” may be changed to ... ”the short lifecycle of many electronic devices”

Author Response

We have added one of the suggested references and have made all of the suggested wording changes to the text.