Electronic Wastes - Things to Know About E-Wastes

The greatest environmental cum health problem that the world is going to face in the near future is that of electronic waste. The United Nations Organization (UNO) assumes that within ten years from now the quantity of electronic waste in the environment is to rise by ten times. Experts claim that it is due to the increase in the use of electronic gadgets plus lack of e-waste gathering and dearth in process of recycling.

What is e-waste?

Computers, Laptops, Electronic gadgets, Mobile Phones, Television, Refrigerator, Security Boards, Bulbs and their appendages that are no more in use are all identified as e-waste. It includes not only those items that are dumped out of factories but things that are thrown away from houses as waste. This in turn have become one of the major reasons for environmental - health problems.

It is estimated that in America around three crore computers are abandoned and in Europe about ten crore mobile phones are discarded per year. According to statistics it is believed that nearly five crore tons of electronic waste is disposed every year. But it is merely a rough calculation as domestic e-wastes are not included. The most shocking thing of all is that, only 20 percent of this e-waste is recycled and the rest remains as pollutants in water, soil etc.

How is e Waste a Threat to Health?

When parts of electronic devices are left out carelessly, gradually it leads to various health problems. A single computer consists of around a thousand poisonous components. Heavy metals such as lead, cadmium and mercury fall into this category. These metals are hazardous and can damage the human neuron system, kidneys and brain. There are others that cause cancers too. The water ,which is polluted by such metals, when consumed by a pregnant lady can affect the baby to be born. Mercury is an example for the same. It damages the neuron system and the growth of brain in children. The mercury accumulated in the fishes and other marine animals from such e-wastes on consumption by human beings results in unhealthiness.

The lead present in printed security boards affects the central neuron system. When it mixes up with the blood it causes several health problems. It also affects the kidneys badly. In addition it can affect the foetus and new borns. It is believed that lead on consumption can result in cancer as well.  The flame retardants in printed security board hamper the digestive system. It has been proved that they too lead to cancer. They hoard in fat cells and generate severe troubles to health.

Cadmium, found in semiconductors and chips, is another metal of this sort. Apart from affecting the kidneys and liver it also results in osteoporosis. Thallium, Boron, Boryllium, Cobalt, and Radium is among the e-waste that is disposed in huge quantities which are hazardous to environment and human health

Electronic Wastes Recycling  - How To Recycle e Wastes

The Developed Countries which have introduced to the world the advancement in the field electronic technology have not been so successful in coming up with a scientific approach for the gathering, disposing and recycling of these e-wastes. Even India falls in the list of countries where it is found that people take up only the useful parts of old electronic gadgets and the rest of it is thrown out carelessly.

This results in water and air pollution. At this point developed countries are taking a crooked way to get rid of e-waste by depositing them in third world countries through ships. Reports reveal that such wastes are sometimes dumped even in sea. Experts ascertain that if these wastes are treated and recycled, a good portion of it can be reused.