Electronic waste, or e-waste, is defined as, "waste consisting of discarded electronic products (such as computers, televisions, and cell phones)."
Below is a list of basic questions and answers in regards to e-waste. The information provided in this post is gathered from the University of Washington's e-waste website.
What are some examples of e-waste?
Batteries, phones, television sets, refrigerators, vehicles, computers, printers, video game systems, washers, dryers, etc.
Is e-waste an environmental issue?
YES! Improper disposal of e-waste can result in a whole slew of issues for the environment, animals, and humans. Even when consumers do properly dispose of e-waste, where it ends up and how can play a big role in the environment's health, too.
How much e-waste is thrown out each year worldwide?
Humans throw out over 40 million tons of electronic waste each year, and a very small portion of it is recycled or discarded in ways that minimize the risk of damaging people and the environment.
Which aspects of the natural world are impacted by e-waste?
All of them! Air, soil, and water are all affected in different ways.
Air quality is primarily impacted through poor recycling practices generally found in countries with informal economies. In these regions, e-waste is dismantled and shredded, causing damage to the air in the immediate area, which is harmful to all life that breathes it in. The components of discarded devices that are of little value, are often burned. Many of the different components found in the devices are plastic, which releases toxic chemicals into the atmosphere when set on fire.
Soil is contaminated by e-waste directly or indirectly. When e-waste or it's byproducts come into contact with soil through recycling or disposal, this is direct contamination. When contaminated water is used for irrigation, this is indirect contamination.
Water quality becomes tainted when landfills are inadequately constructed for e-waste disposal, and also through inappropriate e-waste recycling and destruction practices.
Is it harmful to discard e-waste into the landfill?
YES! Even though e-waste is a small fraction of what ends up in landfills, it consists of over 70% of the toxic heavy metals that end up there.
What are some of the toxic chemicals that can leach out of e-waste?
Lead, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), dioxins and furans (PCDDs and PCDFs), cadmium, arsenic, mercury, and chromium.
How do these chemicals affect humans and the natural world?
Lead exposure can happen through the air, dust, water, and soil, and can impact just about all of the organs in the human body. It can damage the nervous system, cause weakness in extremities, and ramp up blood pressure or anemia. In higher concentrations, lead can influence brain and kidney issues, miscarriage pregnancies, decreased sperm production in men, and can even lead to death.
Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) can be discharged into the air, water, and soil through the burning, dismemberment, or shredding of electronics. People most frequently come into contact with PBDEs through inhalation, but also through direct contact with tainted soils. Children and infants are shown to be more susceptible to these toxins. Thyroid, kidney, memory, and cognitive function are all affected by exposure from high levels of PBDEs. PBDEs do not simply dissolve in water, but instead, cling to various materials and settle on the bottom of lakes and rivers. They bioaccumulate in fish, meat, and dairy products, and build up in organisms and food chains where they result as hormone disruptors.
Dioxins and furans (PCDDs and PCDFs) can become present into air, dust, soil, and food. They do not break down in the natural world, stick around for long periods of time, cross vast expanses through the air, and bind strongly to soils. They bioaccumulate in fish as well as in a food chain, and are identified as probable carcinogens.
Cadmium does not break down in the natural world, and has the ability to become present in air, water, and soils. It strongly binds to soils and can cross vast expanses through the air. Fish, plants, and animals can all be affected by cadmium. The lungs can be significantly damaged if high levels of the toxin are inhaled. Vomiting and diarrhea can result from ingesting high levels of cadmium through food and drinks. Kidney disease, lung damage, and fragile bones can result from build-up through long-term, low-level exposure. Children's cognition, learning, and neuromotor skills can also be impacted. The toxin is known to be cancerous to humans, and is more than likely damaging to plants, as well.
Arsenic exposure can lead to lung cancers and other nervous disorders in both children and adults. Low doses can lead to rapid growth in plants and animals, while high concentrations can cause death. The natural pH in local waters is disturbed when ground waters are contaminated with arsenic, which affects humans and marine organisms that come into contact with it.
Mercury intake in humans is typically received through inhalation. Loss of color discrimination has been linked to mercury exposure, and it can also influence long-term damage to information processing, psychomotor functioning, as well as increase depression and anxiety. Children are at a greater risk than adults when exposed to mercury, and continued exposure can result in nerve and brain damage, as well as birth defects. Mercury can also cause biomagnification of aquatic food webs.
Chromium is found in different forms, but only Chromium(III) and Chromium(VI) are used in electronics. While Chromium(III) is essential to the human body macronutrient absorption, overconsumption can result in health defects, and Chromium(VI) compounds are conclusively identified as human respiratory carcinogens. High concentrations of Chromium exposure influence impacted motor functions, nose and stomach lining irritation, and has also been found to damage the male reproductive system, as well as sperm. Chromium is present throughout the entire life of a device, from production, to use, to disposal, and has the ability to contaminate the air, water, and soil. The toxin does not settle in the atmosphere for long, and eventually dissipates into the soil and water. Unlike many of the other toxins, it does not readily bioaccumulate.
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