Prior to buying a TV, music player, or wireless phone do you think about where these items will go after you no longer use or need them? Consumer electronic components produce nearly 3 million tons of commercial and electronic, or e-waste, annually as consumers throw away outdated or broken items. It is necessary to find out about the effects of e-waste on our environment and health, and the end result when it is thrown out. Large amounts of used electronics are shipped to China, Kenya, and India because it is difficult and costly to recycle it here and our legislation regarding the exporting of e-waste is not well enforced. Processing e-waste is much more profitable in those countries as the standards for the environment and working conditions is much lower. Being aware of e-waste is a huge concern. Specialized facilities are available to handle this hazardous material properly. E-waste can be a very valuable source of secondary raw materials if the electronics are handled and sorted correctly. But when they are not properly handled, they contribute heavily to toxins and carcinogens in our environment. The universal problem has been compounded by fast growing technological advances, cheap starting cost, and shrewdly schemed obsolescence. Serious environmental and health issues have arisen due to careless burning, ungoverned and often unsafe disassembly, and hazardous disposal activities. The waste that is left over from consumer electronics consists of PCB's or polychlorinated biphenyls, lead, mercury, and cadmium. Not only are they very toxic, it has been shown through studies that the PCB's may cause cancer. Our soil and water may become contaminated, which would eventually enter our food chain, if these items are not properly disposed of. When they are burned, toxic fumes are given off, causing both ozone depletion and health problems through inhalation. Cells can be damaged and kidney failure can occur when the central nervous system is affected by mercury, lead or cadmium. Consider this whenever you randomly dispose of a wireless phone battery or ancient VCR. Our environment is saved when you properly dispose of your electronic products through an e-waste recycler. We should all take a minute to consider how consumer electronics can be used, reused, or properly disposed of as this is a problem worth finding a solution for.
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