Bibliometric analysis of academic research on e-waste (2004-2024)
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Abstract
Recycling e-waste is emerging. This paper aims to analyze academic research regarding e-waste recycling in the period 2004-2024. From the methodological point of view, it is a bibliometric study of productivity; the principles of the PRISMA method were followed. The SCOPUS base was used, the selection of documents favored those of free access, for the integral verification of the content, the period chosen is due to the expansion of technology and digitization. The search equation included the terms "e-waste AND recycling". After the filter, 577 documents were detected. The results show a growth in publications from 2019 onwards. The most productive countries are China and the United States, followed by other industrialized countries; meanwhile, regions such as Latin America are on the margins of this reflection. Regarding the findings, the documents highlight the harmful effects of e-waste on the environment and health, some point out the consequences in the generation of cancer and catastrophic diseases. But they also point out benefits of recycling such as the recovery of precious metals, the proper treatment of plastics and actions that stop the pollution of the environment. The institution that most supports the publication of open access studies is the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science of the same country. The main recommendation focuses on strengthening and expanding recycling systems worldwide.
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