Electronics and electrical devices like mobile phones, televisions, computers, tablets, telephones, refrigerators among a list of other devices are so deeply ingrained in our daily lives. In our present lives, it is difficult for us to imagine our lives without electronic gadgets. This article highlights the health hazards caused by informal recycling of E-waste.
In a day, we use many electrical or electronic devices. Electronic devices are meant to make our lives easy and convenient. The technological advances has also shortened the usage cycle of electronic devices. Frequent purchases and discard
Along with proper usage, we are also responsible for the proper disposal of these devices when they are not useful.
Many reports provide varied numbers about E-waste recycling in India, hence it’s difficult to provide an accurate view of the recycling scenario in India. The common theme shared in the multiple reports is the high rate of informal recycling of E-waste in the country.
E-waste collection methods
The E-waste disposal happens in one of the following ways:
- Disposed in the waste bin
- Sold to informal recyclers
- Providing the E-waste to authorized recyclers
The first two methods are unsafe to the environment and living beings as well. The method of disposal is the start of the problems. The health hazards sometime take a while before showing the ill effects on human health.
Apart from under-recovery or no recovery of few elements in Informal recycling, the dangers that informal recycling poses to living beings is also a major cause of concern.
Acids such as Sulphuric Acid, Hydrochloric Acid, Cyanide are among the few acids used for separation of substances in E-waste by informal recyclers.Informal recycling leads to leachates and other toxic substances polluting soil, air and water sources.
The disposal of used acids generally happens in sewers, open gutters, dump-yards, landfills and open water sources. This endangers not only the local ecosystem but also has far reaching health consequences on living beings not in the immediate vicinity as well.
Health Hazards caused by informal E-waste disposal or recycling
70 Out of 83 stable elements (Non-radioactive) from the Periodic Table are present in a Smartphone alone. Along with these elements, the presence of plastic adds on to dangers posed by E-waste.
The list of materials in the table below are found in devices and the harmful consequences these substances have on human health due to prolonged exposure.
| E-waste sources | Constituents | Health effects |
|---|
| Solder in printed circuit boards, glass panels, and gaskets in computer monitors | Lead | Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems, and kidney damage |
| | Adverse effects on brain development of children; causes damage to the circulatory system and kidney |
| Chip resistors and semi-conductors | Cadmium | Toxic irreversible effects on human health |
| | Accumulates in kidney and liver |
| | Causes neural damage |
| Relays and switches, and printed circuit boards | Mercury | Chronic damage to the brain |
| | Respiratory and skin disorders due to bioaccumulation in fishes |
| Galvanized steel plates and decorator or hardener for steel housing | Chromium | Causes bronchitis |
| Cabling and computer housing | Plastics and PVC | Burning produces dioxin that causes reproductive and developmental problems |
| Electronic equipment and circuit boards | Brominated flame-retardants | Disrupt endocrine system functions |
| Front panels of CRTs | Barium, phosphorus, and heavy metals | Cause muscle weakness and damage to heart, liver, and spleen |
| Copper wires, Printed circuit board tracks. | Copper | Stomach cramps, nausea, liver damage, or Wilson’s disease |
| Nickel–cadmium rechargeable batteries | Nickel | Allergy of the skin to nickel results in dermatitis while allergy of the lung to nickel results in asthma |
| Lithium-ion battery | Lithium | Lithium can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby |
| | Inhalation of the substance may cause lung edema |
| Motherboard | Beryllium | Carcinogenic (lung cancer) |
| | Inhalation of fumes and dust causes chronic beryllium disease or berylliosis |
Dangerous substances such as Arsenic contaminate soil and water sources. They enter the human body through the plant-food-body channel.
Cost implication of the diseases
The diseases mentioned above are deadly and cause a lot of pain and agony to the patients. The treatment for most of these diseases is expensive. Few of the diseases fall in the terminal disease category as well.
The cost of treating Cancer in India can go as high as INR 27,00,000 and in some cases the price is even higher than INR 27 lakhs.
The average cost of a Kidney transplant surgery in India costs about INR 5,50,000/-. The average cost of a Liver transplant in India ranges between INR 20 lakhs to 30 lakhs.
Proper E-waste disposal can help in reducing the probability of contracting these diseases.
Options for individuals to formally recycle E-waste
RecyclEarth Foundation collects E-waste from individuals and organizations in Karnataka. They channelize the E-waste to formal recyclers authorized by CPCB or SPCB for recycling. The collection points currently are in Hubballi-Dharwad, Belagavi, Gadag and Bengaluru.
RecyclEarth Foundation also conducts awareness sessions on E-waste in educational institutions and organizations. For further information, please contact RecyclEarth Foundation. Follow us on our social media handles for more information on E-waste management.