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E-waste problems and solutions
Effect of e-waste on human life and the environment
E-waste problems and solutions
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Health effects of exposure to electronic waste (e-waste)
The rapid advancement of technology, which causes electronics to quickly become outdated, as well as their short life spans has caused an increase in electronic waste over the years. This increase has raised many concerns about the effects of e-waste, including the consequences to human health of exposure to e-waste. This discussion will focus specifically on the various materials present in electronics and the methods of recycling of e-waste in terms of their impact on human health.
E- waste contains many heavy metals which are highly dangerous to human health. These include cadmium, chromium, mercury and lead. Cadmium is known to cause kidney and liver dysfunction, hypertension, pulmonary edema and immune depression. Furthermore, cadmium has been identified as a potential carcinogen. Chromium can penetrate membranes with ease and cause allergic reactions as well as harm DNA. In addition, all chromium compounds are possibly carcinogenic. Mercury and its compounds are extremely toxic as they can quickly circulate in the bloods...
The article “Our E-Waste Problem Is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren’t Helping” by Christina Bonnington explains that our landfills are being filled with unused electronics of yesteryear. In 2011, there were 41.5 million tons of electronic wastes in landfills. In 2016, they projected the number to go up to 93.5 million tons. Specifically, our old products are in landfills now such as, HP computers, computer towers, cell phones, and batteries. The reason for all the waste is the human race is buying the newest electronics and not disposing of their unused and unwanted electronics properly. Also, not all of the unused electronics are recyclable. E-waste has a huge negative effect while in landfills because electronics breakdown and they breakdown
The article, “Our E-Waste Problem is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren’t Helping,” by Christina Bonnington, focused the process of electronic devices to be recycled, the challenges of recycling electronic waste, and making devices more recyclable. First, Bonnington described the recycling process. Depending on the condition on the product will determine if it will be reused or stripped down to be destroyed. According to the author, having a simpler design makes the reprocessing easier to bare the electronics for turning into materials. Next, the author mentioned the challenges of recycling. One challenge is how electronics are becoming more compact and tougher to strip apart to separate the materials. Conferring to Bonnington, batteries are
Electronic waste, or any waste for that matter is an inevitable part of an economic system where the destruction of an ecosystem is the primarily source of resources that are used to create the product. The waste that occurs from this process has to be disposed of in some way and more often than not, it is disposed of carelessly with out consideration to the affect it would have on the environment or the very people that create and let capitalism live on, “The political economy approach also defers progress on environmental issues to a pint after economic ones are solved” (Robbins et al. 2010, 114). And if this continues there may be no place left for the excess waste created by capitalism.
E-waste is an enormous problem around the world and according to the “United Nation Environment Program 20 to 50 million tons of E-waste is generated worldwide annually (Ford)”. In fact, “ten thousand cell phones wind up in a landfill every day (Weston)”. When electronic waste is improperly dispose of it can cause problems to the environment and human health. Human health could be affected by toxic materials leaking into the drinking water or food supply. The materials in cell phones “contain lead, cadmium, and mercury that can potentially leak contaminant into the soil and groundwater (Mosieur)”. “Lead exposure to humans will damage to the nervous system, blood and kidneys and mercury exposure will cause brain damage (e-Catcher)”.
Since the dawn of civilization, all living (and some non-living) things have needed energy. When humans discovered fire, the first form of harnessed energy, it made it easier to stay warm, prepare food, make weapons, etc. Since then, humankind has been inventing new ways to harness energy and use it to our advantage. Now-a-days, people in most nations depend extremely heavily on fossil fuels – to work, travel, regulate temperature of homes, produce food, clothing, and furniture, as well as other power industries. Not only are these fossil fuels dominating our society and creating economic vulnerability, but they also produce waste that causes a number of social and environmental concerns. The waste from these fuels leads to acid rain, smog, and climate change. It also releases sulfur dioxide as well as other air pollutants that are very harmful to the human respiratory system (Morris, 1999, p. ix). There are other alternative sustainable energy sources including solar, hydroelectric, wind, and biomass. However, the main source aside from fossil fuel is nuclear energy from controlled nuclear reactions (where nuclei of radioisotopes become stable or nonradioactive by undergoing changes) in a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power produces enormous amounts of energy to serve a community. Unfortunately, nuclear energy has its own set of problems – a big one being its waste. The spent fuel from nuclear plants is radioactive. This means that it emits radiation, or penetrating rays and particles emitted by a radioactive source. Ionizing radiation is known to cause cancer, and therefore makes anyone who lives near spent nuclear waste facilities vulnerable to this incurable disease. The disposal of nuclear waste is a global issue...
properly carried out there is possibility of toxic material entering the stream of SOLID WASTE.
Most of the components of E-Waste are electronic equipment that can be re-used and recycled for materials recovery.
In addition, individuals dispose off their electronic waste wrongly, and it ends up in the incinerators, where toxic gases are produced.
Electronic waste, or e-waste, refers to all consumer electronic products that are ready to be discarded into the waste stream. Once these devices are deposited into landfills, toxic substances leach into the earth and into the water supply. According to a recent study from the Government Accountability Office, 50 million computers become outdated each year, and studies suggest that between 315 and 600 million desktop and laptop computers will soon be obsolete.
For the sustainable development of the society it is very important to judiciously handle the environmental issues like the solid waste management. In order to manage the solid waste effectively we need to understand the composition and all the activities that follow once the waste is generated. Basically the composition and the characteristics of the waste depends a whole lot of factors and also vary periodically.
In our everyday lives there are things that need to be put into consideration. These things are very important because they help us to be able to manage our resources and also our environments. One of the things we need to put in place is the issue of recycling of waste. But before I proceed I would like to define what recycling and waste means. According to oxford dictionary recycling is to convert waste into reusable material . Oxford dictionary defined waste as the deliberately dispose of surplus stock. This put together can help improve a developing area such as Bauchi Street. This unwanted materials can be processed and changed into now product. Further in this easy I will be talking about, how recycling of waste can develop Bauchi street.
The problem of hazardous waste today actually stems from the growth of the United States industry after the Second World War. However, “with the benefits, unavoidably, come hazardous wastes(Kiefer, 1981, p.9). Hazardous wastes are the byproducts of everyday industry, ranging from heavy metals like lead, mercury, copper to more dangerous chemicals including cyanide, acids, and synthetic organic compounds. “The EPA has established four characteristics that may be used to determine whether or not a waste should be classified as hazardous: Ignitability, Corrosivity, Ractivity, and Toxicity”(Block, 1985, p.44). All of these substances and many more are dangerous to wildlife and humans if they are not properly disposed.
Solid waste can be classified in different types, depending on their source, household waste is generally classified as municipal waste; industrial waste as hazardous waste or hospital waste as infections waste. It quite obvious that South Africa environment is deteriorated by the illegal dumping area that around here. Solid waste is a major problem this country is facing at the moment. The province that is experience this major problem is Gauteng province, this an urban area am taking about, and since it’s clear that over population is the cause of the problem. Gauteng province is an over populated than rural area .solid waste pollution is refuse or garbage that people use in their everyday life in their house, such as plastic
Wastewater is the combination of water-carried or liquid wastes starting in the sanitary conveniences of dwellings, industrial or commercial facilities. In addition to this, surface water, groundwater and storm water may also be present. It is any water that has been badly affected in quality by anthropogenic influence. It contains waste from residential, industrial and commercial processes. Municipal water contains industrial wastewater, sewage and gray water. Gray water is the water from sinks and showers. Large industries also produce wastewater.
Wastes are the products of our consumptions in our daily life routines such as lunch, work, school and other things we do. Little things such as throwing out a piece of paper, we are producing waste by the seconds. After we consume a product we usually throw out what’s left that can’t be consumed any further. Results in producing waste, substance that are born after it’s been use or consume by us. At the end of each day we throw out a bag full of garbage, all of the materials in that bag (paper towels, cans, leftover foods and many other material’s) all of these are waste. Hospitals produce medical waste such as use needles for treating patients. Corporations produce papers, plastics, tires, steels, cans and many other type of solid waste which contribute to the pollutions that cause health risk and other environmental issues.