Electronic
waste or e-waste has emerged as a new worry to environmentalists across the globe,
as it threatens to cause serious damage to the environment. According to the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), any appliance using an electronic
power supply on reaching its end-of-life would come under Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE). e-Waste refers to old, unwanted electric or electronic
appliances such as computers, laptops, TVs, DVDs, mobile phones, MP3 players,
microwave ovens, etc. which are no longer in use. These discarded gadgets are
potential threats to both human beings and the environment, as many of their components
contain toxic elements such as lead, mercury, cadmium, etc. which contaminate
the soil and ground water. Health industry experts say that exposure to these
hazardous materials can cause headache, irritability, nausea, vomiting, and eye
pain. The people who collect this e-waste and recycle them may suffer liver, kidney
and neurological disorders. Chemicals such as beryllium, found in computer motherboards,
and cadmium, found in semiconductors, can even lead to cancer. Chromium in floppy
disks, lead in batteries and computer monitors, and mercury in alkaline batteries
and fluorescent lamps also pose significant health risks. A typical computer monitor
may contain more than 6% lead by weight. Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) have a high
content of carcinogens such as lead, barium, phosphor and other heavy metals.
Printed circuit boards contain heavy metals like antimony, gold, silver, chromium,
zinc, lead, tin and copper. Experts say that when disposed carefully in a controlled
environment, these appliances do not pose any serious health or environmental
risk. However, breaking, recycling or disposing these discarded gizmos in an uncontrolled
environment without the necessary safety precautions can result in harmful side
effects for the workers and will release toxins into the soil, air and groundwater.
Unfortunately,
the ever-increasing consumption for electrical and electronic gadgets, coupled
with their quicker obsolescence period has invariably led to the generation of
dangerous levels of hazardous and unwanted e-waste. With the rate at which technological
advancement is taking place, not only with respect to computers and cell phones
but also domestic appliances such as washing machines, refrigerators, microwave
ovens, and TV sets, the problem seems to be growing alarmingly and serious steps
need to be taken to curb its further growth.
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