The Dark Side of Obsolescence: A Review of Environmental Impacts and Sustainable Management Practices for Waste CRTs

Abstract

The accumulation of obsolete cathode ray tube (CRT) displays represents a persistent environmental and public health problem, with pronounced impacts in developing countries where electronic waste governance remains weak. This review addresses the growing burden of waste CRTs in Nigeria and examines their implications for environmental quality, human exposure, and sustainable waste management. The objective of the study is to synthesize available evidence on the environmental and health impacts of CRT waste, assess existing management practices, and identify sustainable strategies suitable for national and comparable developing country contexts. A structured review of peer-reviewed journal articles, technical reports, and policy-oriented literature was conducted, focusing on CRT material composition, contamination pathways, recycling and disposal practices, and regulatory responses. The analysis integrates findings from environmental monitoring studies, occupational exposure assessments, and waste management evaluations. The review finds consistent evidence of lead-dominated contamination in soils, surface water, groundwater, and informal recycling sites, alongside documented health risks among workers and nearby communities. Current management practices rely heavily on informal dismantling, uncontrolled dumping, and limited formal recycling capacity. Regulatory frameworks and institutional controls exist but show weak effectiveness due to enforcement gaps, infrastructure deficits, and limited producer accountability. The review concludes that prevailing CRT waste management approaches in Nigeria remain inadequate to address long-term environmental contamination and human health risks. It recommends an integrated management framework combining enforceable regulation, formalization of recycling activities, extended producer responsibility, and investment in environmentally sound material recovery systems. Such measures support risk reduction, resource recovery, and progress toward sustainable electronic waste management.