E-waste and liver function: uncovering the hidden dangers

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About the research

Every year, millions of electronic devices are thrown away — many ending up in informal e-waste dumps in developing countries like Nigeria. However, this toxic trash creates serious health risks for people living or working nearby. Chukwuebuka Eze (VUB) is investigating how exposure to complex chemical mixtures from e-waste-contaminated soil affects the human liver. Using a liver-based cell culture system and biochemical pathway analysis, he investigates how these toxins lead to liver stress, inflammation, and long-term organ damage. This research exposes the invisible consequences of digital waste and highlights the urgent need for safer recycling policies.

Health
Environment
Chukwuebuka Eze
VUB

Chukwuebuka Eze is a postdoctoral researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. During his PhD in Environmental Toxicology, he focused on detecting environmental pollutants and studying chemical exposure to better understand how these substances affect human health.

In his current research, he investigates how chemical mixtures from electronic waste (e-waste) impact liver health — a crucial step toward developing stronger policies for managing toxic pollution and protecting vulnerable communities.

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