Environmental issues and their significance to human society

E-Waste: Environmental Impacts

The E-waste Threat

Health and Environmental Impact of E-waste

Particulars to Human Threat from Hazardous Metals from E-waste

Soil and water Contaminations from E-waste

The growth of electronic waste is expected to rise exponentially in the next few years. According to a report published in 'The Guardian' on December 2013, the volume of electronic waste is estimated to increase at a rate of 33% in the next few years (Hester & Harrison, 2009). The report, quoting UN's 'Step initiative', the combined weight of all the e-waste would be the same as eight of the great Egyptian pyramids put together (Vidal, 2013). The electronic wastes are made up of various materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, arsenic and flame retardants. All these chemicals are toxic in nature. For example, a cathode ray tube television set can have up to three kilograms of lead (McCann & Wittmann, 2015).

Such toxic wastes once, they get into landfills, can seep through the soil and enter the ground water or the land or air. These toxic elements can then also mix with farm produce, or can be directly consumed unknowingly by people and animals causing harm. Such toxic elements tend to contaminate water, air and land. In addition to this, the dismantling of e-waste is also often done in primitive ways with potential of causing direct harm to people (Hieronymi, Kahhat & Williams, 2013).

The Population reference Bureau says that according to the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) every year there are more than 40 million millions tons of electronic waste is produced across the globe. But just 13% of the e-waste is actually recycled and the rest is dumped. However UNEO also notes that these estimates are relatively low as accurate data on e-waste is not always readily available (Prb.org, 2015). The above facts clearly show that dumping of e-waste is potentially hazardous to the environment as well as to the people who use it or are engaged in its dismantling for re use. Hence it is argued that the export of E-waste should be stopped for reasons related to health and environment safety (McCann & Wittmann, 2015).

The E-waste Threat

In the last couple of decades, the importance that has been attached to the growing threat from e-waste to the environment and humans has increased rapidly. This is because of the rising concerns about the steady growth of e-waste that exhibits no signals of slowing down and yet posing environmental and human health hazards. According to estimates the annual growth in e-waste is more than 5% every year globally.

According to a report published in the Newsweek, more than 49 million metric tons of e-waste was generate din 2012. The e-waste comprised of electronic items like last generation cell phones, laptops, televisions and washing machines. The largest of the contributors to e-waste has been identified as the United States where the average e-waste created per person is 66 pounds and growing. This number is projected to reach 65.4 metric tons by 2017 according to a study of a partner organization of the United Nations. The report also clarifies that even as the amount of e-waste increases, the solutions to recycle and prevent environmental damage have not been developed to corresponding levels (Walker, 2014).

The concept and culture of "make, consume and dispose" is reiterated by the growth of e-waste. This is a predominant culture in the developed nations and is gradually spreading to other economies as well. According to Foote and Mazzolini, (2012) the characteristics of e-waste have elements that tend to threaten the environment and the human health through the improper discarding of the e-waste materials as well as the potential to provide alternative means of livelihood (Hieronymi, Kahhat & Williams, 2013).

According to Chris Caroll of the National Geography the definition of e-waste is the accumulation of the debris that are generated when a consumer or business electronic equipment that is near the end of its useful life cycle is no more useful to the user and the user would tend to buy a new device by dumping the old one (Carroll, 2015). While e-waste primarily is believed to be comprised of electronic equipment like computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, mobile phones and fax machines, experts are divided over the inclusion of kitchen appliances like microwaves into the e-waste definition. Studies have identified a number of causes of e-waste which are linked primarily to the rapid growth of technological devices, increased population, and the change in human behavioral patterns about usage of electronic products. All these factors contribute, some to a larger degree others lesser degree, to the generation of e-waste (Malhotra, Smith and Linder, 2011).

There has been a rapid growth in technologically and huge advancements have been made in the last few decades. This growth in technology has resulted in the development of new electronic products more often than ever before in the human history. According to N. Cohen, (2011) new and improved devices are being brought into the market on a regular basis which are claimed to be better than the older version by the manufacturing companies. These technologically advanced devices are being chosen by consumers over their existing devices which are then considered to be obsolete. This causes people, for example, to discard their old computers or their mobile phones or fax machines for newer and improved versions. It is believed that the average life span of a computer in the developing and the developed economies is slightly above a year. With the rise in the need to use computers or other electronic devices rising and more devices flooding the market, it is expected that the average life cycle of electronic goods would get reduced more in the future (Cohen, 2011).

The growth in the world population I the last few decades and the increase in the life span of people in general is another related cause of the creation of e-waste. The growth in population means that more and more people are present in the markets that use electronic devices. Therefore more and more electronic devices are being produced for the added population. Added to this problem is the constant upgrading of electronic devices compounds the problem of e-waste. More people using electronic devices means that more people are essentially throwing out more of the devices and discarding tem as waste. Larger population using electronic devices and regular advancement of devices means greater e-waste production.

According to V. Goodship, (n.d.) another reason for the rapid rise in the e-waste volume over the last few years has been attributed to the change in the way people and consumer =s view electronic items. For most, electronic items like mobile phones, computers and laptops are also regarded as a device that adds to their style and social status. Therefore the more technologically advanced or more stylish a computer or a mobile phone is, the more satisfied the owner would be. This often becomes as important as the functions and the dependability of the device. This attitude among a large section of consumers, researchers say, has results in the companies churning out new and improved versions of electronic devices now and them and is resulting in more consumers forsaking their older devices for new improved versions. This is also one of the reasons why e-waste is on the rise all across the globe (Goodship, n.d.). This behavior is not isolated characteristic of one market but a general trend among global consumers.

According to the dynamics of the flow of e-waste, it has a tendency of being exported from the developed economies to the developing and the underdeveloped economies. One the major characteristic of such export of e-waste is that it has the potential opportunity to retain valuable resources and material by closing the loop of material flows. This export also has the potential to generate revenue from the dismantling of the refuse. Therefore form many people in the developing economies e-waste also forms a major source of income for a section of the people. This increases the chances of health and safety damage to those handling the recycling of the waste (United Nations UNiversity, 2015).

There are ample reasons to be skeptical and critical about e-waste. E-waste comprises of more than 1000 different substances. While a large number of them are hazardous, there are many that are considered to be non-hazardous. Though a major portion of the e-waste is composed of ferrous and non-metallic materials like plastics, it becomes hazardous when there is presence of hazardous materials and elements that are beyond the safe limit. Most of the e-waste materials contain hazardous materials like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, selenium and hexavalent chromium and flame retardants (McCann & Wittmann, 2015). The e-waste materials that contain a high concentration of these hazardous materials makes the e-waste potentially harmful to the environment and for the health and safety of people using and handling e-waste.

Health and Environmental Impact of E-waste

Many of the several hundred tiny components that make up electronic products contain hazardous chemicals and metals. Such chemicals have the potential to cause environmental contamination and endanger the health of humans if present in more than the specified safe limit. Electronic devices like television sets, video and computer monitors and screens contain hazardous materials lead, cadmium, mercury, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), chromium, beryllium etc. These chemicals and non-ferrous metals are potentially very dangerous to humans.

For example is an individual is exposed for prolonged period to lead, that individual would develop nervous system, kidney and bones and the reproductive and endocrine systems. Some of the above mentioned chemicals and metals are also carcinogenic (Griffith.edu.au, 2015). People tend to get affected by these hazardous chemicals and non-ferrous metals while they work on dismantling and recycling of this e-waste. Recycling and dismantling is done to enable reuse of the electronic parts of these components in the third world countries, the countries where these electronic materials are generally dumped. Since it is economically advantageous for the importers of the developing countries to import and reuse rejected electronic items from the developed countries, the imports are increasing. As so is the tendency of importers to employ people in the dismantling and recycling of the waste (McCann & Wittmann, 2015).

Apart from the health and safety of humans, such e-waste also has a potential to impact the environment in a long lasting way. Improper disposal of e-waste can be hazardous to the environment. Disposal of such waste in without following proper procedures has the potential to contaminate the soil, water and air. The toxic waste in the electronic items seeps through the improperly disposed waste into the soil and reach underground water. In this way, the water and the soil are polluted. In case the waste is burned improperly, the air could also get polluted. Such water, air and soil may then be used for agriculture or consumer by humans and becomes hazardous for humans and other forms of life. Such improper and unscientific disposal of e-waste can result in serious repercussions for the residents and the natural habitat that are in direct proximity to the places where e-waste is recycled or burnt.

According to the organization StEP- Solving the e-waste Problem, on an average more than 40 million metric tons of electronic waste (e-waste) are generated every year globally (Richter, 2014). Such waste is generally exported mostly to the developing countries. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, a conservative estimate of the waste generated from the European countries is 9 million tones and a nearly a double quantity form the North American continent. StEP estimates that in 2012 alone the global generation of e-waste was more than 48.9 million metric tons (McCann & Wittmann, 2015).

Electronics goods that tend to be discarded as waste are segmented into three categories.

White goods-that include household electrical appliances

Brown goods which comprise of TVs, camcorders, cameras, etc. And Grey goods that include computers, printers, fax machines, scanners, etc. (United Nations UNiversity, 2015).

Advocates against the rampant export of e-waste to developing nations cite the example of Guiyu, a city in southeastern China. Guiyu is considered to be the largest city or region for the recycling of e-waste in the world (Prb.org, 2015). Surveys in Guiyu suggests that the major threat to health and safety to humans and the environment from e-waste is due to the informal working conditions, poverty and poor sanitation. Surveys have shown that the residents of the city have significant health problems like problems of digestive, neurological, respiratory and bones. For example, surveys have shown that due to possible lead poisoning, 80% of the children in Guiyu's city have respiratory related ailments (Prb.org, 2015).

But direct contamination of the residents of Guiyu is not the only threat. Researcher anticipate that the wind patterns in Southeast China has the potential to disperse the harmful and toxic particles released in the air due to the burning of e-waste to the surrounding regions which is home to 45 million people (United Nations UNiversity, 2015). In this fashion, the toxic chemicals and metals manage to enter into the soil and consequently into food exposing a very large number of people to the ill effects of the toxic materials. Therefore the export and the recycling of e-waste in very large quantities in Guiyu city should be stopped until there is scientific disposal (Prb.org, 2015).

Particulars to Human Threat from Hazardous Metals from E-waste

As already discussed, the main components of e-waste comprise of metals like Americium, Arsinic, Barium, Beryllium, Lithium, Nickel, Mercury, Sulphpur, Lead, Cadmium, Chromium, Beryllium Oxide, Brominated flame retardants (BFR), Rare earth elements etc. Americium is the result of the radioactive material in e-waste and is carcinogenic in nature. Arsenic can cause a range of human defects and diseases like skin disease and kidney damage. Metals like Barium-present in the cathode ray tubes of television sets, Beryllium-present in power supply which contains SCR and beam line components and Lithium-present in batteries are hazardous and toxic if inhaled or consumes.

Exposure to Nickel which is also present in the batteries of electronic gadgets can cause harm to humans in the long run (Hieronymi, Kahhat and Williams, 2013). Another very harmful metal is Mercury that is found in fluorescent tubes, tilt switches, conducting electronic tubes, control solid state devices and flat screen monitors can cause severe diseases to humans like, sensory impairment, memory loss, dermatitis, reduced fertility causing slowing of growth and development and weakness in muscle. Heart damage, kidney damage, liver damage and eye and throat infections can be caused by Sulphur which is present in the led-acid batteries. This can cause direct contamination to humans on contact while trying to dispose off the e-waste (Ha et al., 2009).

Severe health damage can be caused to humans if metals like Lead and Cadmium that are present in the electronic products, especially in the batteries of e-waste, comes in direct contact with humans or if consumed. Nervous systems can be affected by consuming the chemicals that make up the brominated flame retardants found in vacuum tubes lasers, CPUs and power transistors and magnetrons in e-waste dumps.

Soil and water Contaminations from E-waste

E-waste dumping and processing sites are generally located in the areas that are outside the urban areas and often near land often used for agricultural purposes. While non-recycling of e-waste causes the toxic metals in the e-waste to come out of the various parts of e-waste over a period of time, the unscientific recycling is the prime cause of the fast paced pollution of the soil, air and water from the toxic chemicals (Hieronymi, Kahhat and Williams, 2013).

Such contamination can happen when unscientific recycling in the form of salvaging of useful materials form the e-waste takes place and heavy metals are released into the surroundings. Such exposure of heavy metals to the environment also happens from open and the uncontrolled burning of electronic waste. Contamination of the soil happens when these heavy metals seep out of the -- waste and penetrate into the surrounding soil and the water sources. In case of the soil or the water being used for irrigation or being consumed by humans, it can lead to several serious ailments in humans. Heavy metals being released in the air by burning of the e-waste can have a toxic effect on humans, animals and plant life when the air containing the heavy metals settles down on food or on the plants or is inhaled by humans or animals (Ha et al., 2009).

Plants can absorb these metals form the soil or the water through their roots and transport the heavy toxic metals through the plant body into the fruits or vegetables. According to Malhotra, Smith and Linder, (2011) these heavy metals get stored inside their tissues. However various plants species have varying abilities to store and accumulate heavy metals. Heavy metal can also penetrate into the plants through the direct intake into the plants for the air. An important way for the transfer of heavy metals that are present in the environment into the human body is the direct consumption of such contaminated food (Malhotra, Smith and Linder, 2011).

Various studies have shown the presence of high levels of heavy metals like lead, Cadmium, polybrominated biphenyls, etc. In the rice and other food produce from the agricultural land surrounding e-waste dumping and recycling sites. Therefore the people living in the areas surrounding the e-waste sites and consuming food being cultivated from area around the site are prone to health hazards (Growth and Metal Uptake by Plants Grown in Mono- and Dual Culture in Metal-contaminated Soils, 2010).

The local environmental conditions also play a major role to determine the extent to which the mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity of the heavy metals from e-waste manage to get into the soil, water and the air. Fu et al., (2008) claims that human exposure through the consumption of drinking water, the food chain, dermal contact and inhalation releases heavy metals into the human body. According to Luo et al., (2011) several studies in this matter in recent times on the population living near and working in e-waste sites have been found to contain abnormal levels of heavy metals in the cells and the tissues of the people (Luo et al., 2011).