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E-waste Research Project Multimodal Project
6
E-waste
and its Contribution in Harming the Environment, Animals, and Humans
E-waste
What is E-waste?
E-waste is defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “used electronics that are nearing the end of their life, and are discarded, donated or given to a recycler.”
How Much E-waste is the United States Producing?
How Much E-waste is the United States Producing?
Every year, Americans produce 4.5 million tons of e-waste by throwing out old electronics such as old phones, cameras, laptops, and televisions.
In 2012, 71% of e-waste was sent to landfills. This equates to 2.42 million tons of e-waste being disposed of out of 3.4 million tons that were sent to be recovered to collect their metal resources.
As the electronics industry grows, so does e-waste.
Why E-waste is a Threat
When e-waste is disposed of, 1,000 different toxic substances that are classified as hazardous can be polluted into the earth, air, and water.
These toxic substances include heavy metals such as mercury, cadmium, and lead.
How is Exposure to these Substances Harmful?
How is Exposure to these Substances Harmful?
In 2008, an assessment of risk from dust ingestion was conducted by Leung and coauthors. For a printed circuit board recycling worker, the estimated oral average daily dose of lead exceeded the safe oral reference for lead by 50 times. Not only are recycling and landfill workers affected by e-waste, so are residents living nearby.
High exposure to lead can cause serious health implications such as irreversible brain damage, kidney and liver damage, and nervous system damage.
Impact on Humans
E-waste has the potential to emit toxins into water supplies that humans drink from such as underground wells. Agricultural crops can also become contaminated by e-waste seeping into the soil and ground water.
Once water and crops become contaminated, humans consume the hazardous toxins.
Impact on Humans
A Study Conducted in China
A Study Conducted in China
In Taizhou, China, a study was conducted in the city's biggest e-waste recycling area in the province. Taizhou is also known to be a significant agricultural producer by yielding rice within the province. Fu and his researchers found ten heavy metals such as copper, cadmium, and lead in the rice.
After consuming the rice, residents of the area have the potential to become exposed to these metals which can cause adverse health effects such as nervous, digestive, and immune system issues.
Impact on the Environment
Impact on the Environment
E-waste is frequently incinerated as a disposal measure and is oftentimes done in the open air. With incinerating e-waste, there is potential for it to emit toxic fumes and gases into the atmosphere, therefore, polluting the surrounding area. When refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning units are incinerated, they emit ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons.
Water pollution is also a major concern when bodies of water are near e-waste management sites. E-waste contaminants entering aquatic systems can lead to water shortages and whole ecosystems to become negatively affected, or even collapse, in extreme cases.
Disposal Measure in Egypt
Disposal Measure in Egypt
Labor practices that are used for e-waste disposal can heavily impact the environment and atmosphere. At e-waste recycling facilities in Egypt, while cables are burned, the environment where people reside is engulfed in thick, black, toxic smoke. This smoke not only impacts the ozone layer but also increases the risk of local residents developing respiratory and skins diseases, eye infections, or even cancer.
Impact on Wildlife
Impact on Wildlife
E-waste related mixtures (EWMs) have been found to be resistant to biodegradation and have a strong tendency to bioaccumulate in the food chain. This means that when a predator eats its prey, the predator consumes e-waste substances that the prey had consumed previously.
This is especially prevalent in marine life due to e-waste seepage into bodies of water. E-waste exposure to marine life not only leads to harm in marine life, the food chain, and ecosystems, but also to humans who consume e-waste exposed fish.
To put it in perspective...
Salmon has an average mercury load of 0.014 ppm and can reach measurements up to 0.086 ppm.
Zhang's Bird Study
Zhang's Bird Study
In 2014, Qiang Zhang and his team of researchers conducted a study to determine if e-waste influences the decline of bird populations. A total of 8,216 birds from 104 species were recorded during the four surveys. Among the surveys, they observed that 82 bird species and 3,538 birds were e-waste exposed due to their surrounding e-waste reference sites. The e-waste severity showed negative effects on the total bird species in terms of richness, density, and diversity patterns.
This study confirmed that improper e-waste disposal results in the severe declination of bird populations around e-waste pollution sources.
How are Countries Taking Action?
How are Countries Taking Action?
The majority of countries and leaders have taken little to no action to prevent the harm of e-waste. E-waste is becoming an increasing issue not only in the United States but all throughout the world. As technology and electronics advance in production, it becomes harder for governments to find successful and sustainable ways to eliminate e-waste production.
In 2011, the United States federal government initiated the Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship (ITFES). While this organization has made strides toward improving green design, recycling facilities, and addressing environmental occupational health concerns, no legislation has been passed concerning e-waste in the United States.
Switzerland has found a sustainable solution their e-waste issue. Can other countries say the same?
How can we Reduce E-waste?
2. Reuse or Repair
If the device or equipment still works reuse it or give it to someone who can use it. Before getting rid of a broken device or equipment, see if it can be fixed or repaired. If not, recycle it!
1. Be a Knowledgeable Consumer
Research a product before you buy it to ensure that you wont have to replace it in a few years. The longer the lifespan the better!
How can we Reduce E-waste?
3. Educate Yourself
Knowledge is power! Before purchasing a device or equipment do some research to see what raw materials are being used to manufacture the product. As you educate yourself, you will become more environmentally cautious.
4. Look for an Environmentally Friendly Label
Products you purchase can have a label such as an Energy Star to show that they are certified by the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool.
Works Cited
Heacock, Michelle, et al. “E-Waste and Harm to Vulnerable Populations: A Growing Global Problem.” Environmental Health
Perspectives, vol. 124, no. 5, May 2016, pp. 550. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, doi: http://dx.doi.org.proxy032.nclive.org/10.1289/ehp.1509699. Accessed 27 October 2021.
Minter, Adam. “The Environmental and Health Effects of Electronic Waste Are Exaggerated.” The Environment, edited by Lynn M.
Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, doi: link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010132408/OVIC?u=nclivecvcc&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=f9dd7297. Accessed 27 October 2021.
Seeberger, Jessica, et al. "E-waste Management in the United States and Public Health implications." Journal of Environmental Health,
vol. 79, no. 3, October 2016, pp. 8+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, doi: link.gale.com/apps/doc/A464045507/OVIC?u=nclivecvcc&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=8532736a. Accessed 27 October 2021.
Borthakur, Anwesha. "Health and Environmental Hazards of Electronic Waste in India." Journal of Environmental Health, vol. 78, no. 8,
April 2016, pp. 18+. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, doi: link.gale.com/apps/doc/A447032744/OVIC u=nclivecvcc&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=213d9280. Accessed 27 October 2021.
Zhang, Qiang, et al. "Do Bird Assemblages Predict Susceptibility by E-Waste Pollution? A Comparative Study Based on Species- and
Guild-Dependent Responses in China Agroecosystems." PLoS ONE, vol. 10, no. 3, 26 March 2015. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, doi: link.gale.com/apps/doc/A421817950/OVIC?u=nclivecvcc&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=742f55a6. Accessed 27 October 2021.
Environmental Protection Agency. “Cleaning Up Electronic Waste (E-Waste).” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency,
https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/cleaning-electronic-waste-e-waste. Accessed 26 November 2021.
United Nations Environment Programme. United Nations Environment Programme 2009 Annual Report, text, February 2010; Nairobi,
Kenya. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc25993/: accessed November 12, 2021), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu;. Accessed 26 November 2021.
OPB. "What is E-Waste?" YouTube, uploaded by OPB, 5 May 2016,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQZjouMTH08&t=1s. Accessed 26 November 2021.
gmshadowtraders. "China- World's dumping ground for Electronic Waste (CNN)." YouTube, uploaded by
gmshadowtraders, 11 June 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-_ubuFhqQA. Accessed 26 November 2021.
ITU. "How Switzerland is winning the battle against e-waste." YouTube, uploaded by ITU, 11 October 2019,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqmjrQcAgg&t=3s. Accessed 26 November 2021.
“Simple Ideas on How to Reduce E-Waste.” Great Lakes Electronics, 4 April 2019,
https://www.ewaste1.com/how-to-reduce-e-waste/. Accessed 26 November 2021.