Effects Of E-Waste
Life in the 21st modern century has become so busy that many people don't have the time to search an alternative of how to recycle E-Waste and just simply throw their phones, computers, video players etc. in the garbage, ultimately ending up in landfill, it means both human health and the environment are at risk.
A report by Environment Victoria and Total Environment Centre Inc. entitled "Tipping Point: Australia’s E-Waste Crisis/2009/Update" states the following affects from materials found in e-waste.
Lead
This is a toxic material negative to the health affects including brain damage, which is an removal from paints and petrol. The introduction of lead to the food chain and atmosphere (through lead combustion) are the primary causes of health problems in humans. Lead in the environment disrupts the natural functions of water and soil systems.
Mercury
Mercury has a toxic affect on both human and environmental health. A small amount now exists in every household light-bulb (the new energy efficient CFLs), if these light-bulbs are crushed as part of the waste transfer process the elemental form of mercury is easily transferred into local environments. Once in landfill and combined with organics, anaerobic breakdown takes place leading to the production of highly toxic methyl-mercury.
Cadmium
Cadmium is cancer causing to humans. Within environmental systems it rapidly degrades soil health causing flow on effects to local ecosystems; it is also released to the atmosphere if burnt.
Brominated Flame Retardants
When ewaste is oxidized during smelting, bromine will be released. The released bromine may then recombine with unoxidized carbon under certain conditions in smelter emissions in the form of Brominated dioxins and furans.
Beryllium
Inhalation of beryllium or beryllium-containing dust, mist or fume, may cause a chronic lung disorder called beryllicosis in susceptible persons, and beryllium is a probable human carcinogen.
Arsenic
Arsenic is classified as a carcinogen.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Hazardous chemical additives (like phthalates) can leach when PVC components of electronic products are sent to landfill.
A Dateline documentary of E-Waste effecting environment.
This Table is a summary of other E-Wastes collected and highlighting the effects in the environment and human.
E-Waste Component | Process Used | Potential Environmental Hazard |
|---|---|---|
Cathode ray tubes (used in TVs, computer monitors, ATM, video cameras, and more) | Breaking and removal of yoke, then dumping | Lead, barium and other heavy metals leaching into the ground water and release of toxic phosphor |
| Printed circuit board a thin plate on which chips and other electronic components are placed. | De-soldering and removal of computer chips; open burning and acid baths to remove metals after chips are removed. | Air emissions and discharge into rivers of glass dust, tin, lead, brominated dioxin, beryllium cadmium, and mercury |
| Chips and other gold plated components | Chemical stripping using nitric and hydrochloric acid and burning of chips | PAHs, heavy metals, brominated flame retardants discharged directly into rivers acidifying fish and flora. Tin and lead contamination of surface and groundwater. Air emissions of brominated dioxins, heavy metals, and PAHs |
| Plastics from printers, keyboards, monitors, etc. | Shredding and low temp melting to be reused | Emissions of brominated dioxins, heavy metals and hydrocarbons |
| Computer wires. | Open burning and stripping to remove copper. | PAHs released into air, water and soil. |
No comments:
Post a Comment