E-waste: the latest threat to the environment

By Amal HEWAVISSENTI

The computer technology which turned the whole world into a global village is said to be instrumental in producing e-waste at a horrific rate. In fact, electronic waste (e-waste) chiefly comprises discarded computer components such as CDs, TVs, radios, mobile phones and other electronic appliances.

The environmental pollution caused by e-waste has began to pose a substantial threat which adds up to the problems of other types of environmental pollution. E-waste that is highly detrimental to man's health beginning to show its ugly head not only in third world countries but also in developed countries.

The compact Disks, the most important and economical tool for storing information in communication are discarded daily in staggering numbers. This is a widespread occurrence across the country. The giant scale disposal of discarded CDs is rightly predicted by environmentalists to be a noticeable rehearsal for a major environmental catastrophe.

Most CDs are incapable of erasing their used data and being recycled in whatever way. This is precisely the reason why an enormous number of CDs has to be disposed daily into our environment.

Record

Companies manufacturing CDs generally record an annual production of around thirty billion CDs. It is observed that the number of CDs being discarded daily runs parallel to the number of CDs produced daily.

Among the various parts of computer which daily become waste, are the monitors and mother boards. The chemicals contained in these parts have been calculated to be the most injurious to man's health and environment. Fortunately enough, the people are beginning to switch over to LCD monitor in condemnation of CRT monitor which has been proved to be extremely damaging to the environment.

Same effect is true of mobile phones. The chemicals present in the battery and the mother board of mobile phones have been discovered to emit harmful rays to the environment. Thus the discarded mobile phones and their batteries are a major contribution to the environmental hazards plaguing the world today. Apart from that, chemicals used in manufacturing TV screens and other electronic gadgetry play a substantial role in adversely affecting human health and environment. Thus the discarded TVs and parts are capable of placing the environment in jeopardy.

Harmful chemicals

The e-waste being exposed to the environment, gradually releases what we call 'heavy metal' to the environment. Usually a discarded electronic appliance comes in contact with the environment in the from of a mass of shattered pieces. This is the most hazardous condition because the harmful heavy metal present in the shattered parts easily blend with the surrounding land. The effect of this process appears to be much more destructive when one considers the fact that mercury (Hg) is mostly used in the manufacture of computers. Similarly, Chemicals such as copper, nickel, cilica, caesium, zinc sulphide, cadmium are used to produce colour in the screen of computer. Everything blends with the environment undermining the wholesome existence of it.

It is true that a CD is a simple, unsophisticated technological tool which has layers of Poly carbonate plastic and Aluminium. In the process of disposal of used CDs, they are burned till nothing is left. The compounds of Phiuran and Dioxine which are released to the air in the process of burning discarded CDs are found to cause heavy damage to human body in the long run. The varieties of heavy metal such as platinum, cadmium, copper, mercury have the capacity to inflict serious harm even in a lower concentration, to the human body.

Cancer

These dangerous combinations of metal and chemicals which may enter the human body as gases in the process of burning, can blend with soil. Then they enter human body through water, plants and animal flesh. The chemicals are proved to attack body cells and deform them with greater possibility of diseases. The presence of these chemicals in the body may heighten the danger of cancer. If these heavy metals and other destructive compounds are allowed to enter a woman's body, the poison may easily creep in to her children too. These poisoners, chemicals emitted in the burning of CDs and other discarded electronic appliances, may enter edible greens through water in reservoirs and tanks where the plants grow.

Into the body through vegetables

The chemicals which are released to waterways may, easily enter plants growing in the water and may be deposited in them until we eat them as a delicious salad or a curry. The chemicals can enter human body through fish.

Though this process has posed a serious threat to the environment and human health much less attention has been focussed on it as the bad consequences of e-waste disposal are not easily noticed. The effects of the chemicals of e-waste begin to show after a long time and world authorities do not seem to be bothered about it in the way as they should.

Even through environmentalists in particular are concerned about correct disposal of e-waste, the public is not adequately attentive to the problem. Public awareness should however be raised about correct disposal of e-waste without damaging the environment. Awareness programmes should be carried out at grass roots level.

The most serious aspect of this problem is that greater demand exists for used electronic appliances such as computers.

This is because used electronic appliances are much easier to be bought at the lowest possible price.

These appliances are not in practical use for a long time and soon they are discarded as broken machines with a huge mass of chemicals and heavy metals damaging the environment beyond redemption.

Fortunately, world environmental authorities have concentrated fairly on measures to deal with e-wast particularly discarded CDs, computer machines, mobile phones and batteries through the intervention of environmentalists, the authorities are now forced to implement projects of collecting e-waste. There are institutions which are capable of collecting and effectively recycling e-waste specially discarded CDs for export. Their first duty is to collect CDs daily discarded from banks. This particular project operates with the Investment Board.

It is imperative that the public is sufficiently made aware of the environmental havoc created by e-waste because e-waste is predicated to bring about wide-scale destruction to the world within the coming decades.

(Based on internet)