Environmental and Health Impacts
E-waste is extremely hazardous to us and To our planet
Improper disposal of e-waste is not the only harm to the planet—unregulated recycling is as well, according to Sarker M. Parvez et al. A lot of e-waste is exported to other countries where people then extract precious metals like gold, silver, and palladium from the electronics to reuse them and discard the rest. These processes are often unregulated and include melting plastic, open burning, and use of acid. The resulting non-biodegradable toxins go on to contaminate the air, water, and soil, subsequently entering our bodies. Let's take a look at some of these impacts. Let's take a look at some of these impacts.
Informal e-waste recycling in Guiyu, China; Remko Tanis/Netherlands Press Association
Air Pollution
Informal recycling of e-waste is cheaper and widespread, typically done by hand with minimal tools and in homes or makeshift workspaces. The extraction of precious and rare earth elements is often done haphazardly and leads to the release of hazardous pollutants in the air, affecting both human health and the planet.
Impact
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Releases toxic fumes into the air, which are then inhaled by people and animals even miles away.
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Open burning to recover copper, often from insulated wiring used in vehicles and USB cables. Insulation is separated from the metal and then sold.
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Smoke from burning insulation contains dioxin, which can cause skin lesions and organ failure
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Also releases carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming
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Manual harvest and dismantlement of dumped electronics parts
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Handling of these metals with bare hands and exposure to dust particles can lead to respiratory disease
The city Guiyu in Guangdong, China is especially known as "the world's most toxic place," is a key destination for all kinds of e-waste. Lead exposure is rampant through dust, ingestion, and dermal contact, with blood lead levels in children much higher than control cities elsewhere in China, according to researchers Huang, Shi, and Wu.
Soil Contamination
Chemical breakdown is the danger of throwing e-waste into landfills. Soil becomes contaminated with beryllium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury, serving as a direct pipeline to trees and other wildlife. Crops absorb these contaminants, leading to a variety of health issues once consumed. See the table below to learn more about each chemical’s effect on the human body.
Media from Wix
Water Pollution
After being absorbed into soil, heavy metals from e-waste can also entering groundwater and find their way into ponds, lakes, and rivers, leading to a variety of environmental and health impacts.
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Acidification of the water also leads to a major loss in aquatic biodiversity, causing excessive algal growth and eutrophication, choking out other forms of life in the waters.
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Micro-plastics and heavy metals from e-waste can build up in the food chain, first swallowed by fish and then entering human mouths, causing cancer, endocrine and reproductive disruption, and mercury sickness, according to Lu Zhan et al in their research on complex pollution in e-waste recycling.
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Shailesh R. Dave et al. says that chemical leaching also compromises the drinking water sources of locals and fauna native to the area, resulting in neurological impairment, respiratory issues, anemia, kidney damage, and much more.
Joan Oger/Unsplash
