ISLAMABAD, Oct 26: More than 90 per cent of the tens of millions of tons of electronic goods waste (e-waste) generated every year in the world ended up in five developing countries, including Pakistan located in Asia and the Pacific, a United Nation report says.

Other states, excluding Pakistan, where the e-waste reached include Bangladesh, India, China and Myanmar.

It is estimated that around 20 to 50 million tons of e-waste was mostly generated in rich countries every year, which was dumped in developing countries.

The e-waste has become an important health and environmental issue.

Recycling electronic goods involves exposure to dangerous metals, such as lead, mercury, and cadmium. This can be toxic to humans and ecosystems if they are improperly handled or disposed of.

Major cities of Pakistan are victims of the usage of these products, which are in greater demand due to higher prices of new products.

The warning comes in UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4) released on Friday.

There has been a rapid increase in the global domestic consumption of a wide range of electronic goods and advanced technologies. It is said Asian workers are “using 19th century techniques to process 21st century wastes.”

The report says that 70 per cent of e-waste collected at recycling units in New Delhi was exported from or dumped by other countries.

Effective waste management strategies and systems are either completely lacking or are inadequate in many Asian and Pacific countries, posing a serious threat to human and environmental health.

The report says there is evidence of significant adverse effects from tropospheric (ground-level) ozone on staple crops in some developing countries, including China, India, and Pakistan.

The future will be largely determined by the decisions individuals and society make now, the report says.

Asia and the Pacific, home to 60 per cent of the world’s people, are making “remarkable” process in reducing poverty, says the report, adding the region is also improving its ability to protect the environment, energy efficiency is increasing in many places and drinking water provision has advanced considerably in the last decade.

But progress has come at a price. Increase in consumption and associated waste have contributed to the exponential growth in existing environmental problems. Serious challenges remain, including urban air quality, fresh water stress, agriculture land and increased waste. The illegal traffic in electronic and hazardous waste is a new challenge affecting human health and the environment.

According to the report, ecosystems and human health in Asia and the Pacific continue to deteriorate, while population growth and rapid economic development have driven significant environmental degradation and loss of natural resources.

On air quality, the region’s growing energy needs and the “exploding” growth in motor vehicles are causing serious damage, with haze pollution from forest fires in South East Asia’s making matters worse.

Excessive use of surface and underground water, industrial pollution and inefficient use of fresh water all contribute to water stress.

There are also indications of unprecedented glacier retreats in the Himalayan-Hindukush region.

Negotiations are due to start in December next on a treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, the international climate agreement, which obligates countries to control anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions.

Although, it exempts all developing countries from emission reduction commitments, there is growing pressure for some rapidly industrialised countries, now substantial emitters themselves, to agree to emission reductions.

The report says climate change is a global priority, demanding political will and leadership. Yet it finds a remarkable lack of urgency and a woefully inadequate global response.