Ewaste Recycling Health Effects Author: Margaret Bates, The University of Northampton

ENVIRONMENTAL DISEASE BURDEN IN DEATHS PER PEOPLE, BY WHO SUBREGION (2002) Kenya

What is electronic waste?

From this

To this

Risks Health Environment Financial loss

Health Risks Lead PVC Brominated Fire retardants Barium Chromium Mercury Beryllium Cadmium

Metal casing plastics Cables and wires Chip resistors, detectors and conductors Circuit boards Switches and relays

CRT yokeCircuit boards Connectors and chips Cables and wires Metal band and frit Panel glass Funnel glass

Lead CRT – funnel, panel (old) and frit Circuit boards

Lead damage to the nervous systems, blood system and kidneys

Children suffer developmental effects and loss of mental ability, even at low levels of exposure. Brain or nerve damage Digestive issues Hearing problems Stunted growth Lead

Use PPE Don’t burn Don’t dismantle for parts Environmental hazard Toxic Source: Solder, batteries

Plastics Cables - PVC Computer and monitor cases – mainly ABS

PVC Cancer Disruption of the endocrine system Reproductive impairment Impaired child development and birth defects Neurotoxicity (damage to the brain or its function), and Immune system suppression

Dioxin

Brominated Fire Retardants Monitor cases Cables Computer cases Circuit boards Connectors

neurotoxic effects Brominated Fire Retardants endocrine disrupters linked to thyroid and liver damage cancer of the digestive and lymph system

Flame retardant: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB’s) and Polychlorinated Diphenyl-Ether Use PPE Don’t burn Environmental hazard Toxic Source: Plastic casing, plastic wiring casing

Barium Old CRTs

Barium Gastrointestinal disturbance Changes in blood pressure Muscle weakness Breathing difficulty

Chromium Metal hardening and corrosion protection in metal housing and plates

Chromium Skin reactions Bronchitis Nerve damage DNA damage, hereditary effects

Hexavalent Chromium Use PPE Don’t dismantle for parts Don’t burn Toxic Source: Plating, anti- corrosion applications, plastic pigments

Beryllium Motherboards Connectors

Beryllium berylliosis Lung cancer

Mercury Circuit boards Mercury switches and fluorescent tubes Batteries

Mercury gastrointestinal problems Skin rashes Nerve damage kidney damage

Mercury Use PPE Use a spill kit Don’t burn Don’t dismantle for parts Environmental hazard Toxic Source: Switches, sensors, contacts, lamps

Cadmium Chip resistors Phosphorescent coatings Batteries Cables and wires Semi conductors

Cadmium Lung damage Grey babies Weak bones Kidney damage

Cadmium Use PPE Don’t burn Environmental hazard Don’t dismantle for parts Toxic Source: Solder, plastic casing, coatings

Toxic components in ewaste include: Gases from fridges, AC and cooling equipment Circuit boards containing heavy metals such as lead & cadmium Batteries Cathode ray tubes Brominated flame-retardants used in printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casing.

Toxic components in ewaste include: Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) coated copper cables and plastic casings that release highly toxic dioxins & furans when burned Mercury in flat panel screens Mercury in fluorescent tubes Poly Chlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) present in older capacitors & transformers

Ewaste that needs special care Fridges – Oils – Foams – Gases Televisions and monitors – CRTs – LCD Bulbs and lamps Batteries