Hazards associated with E-waste

E-waste contains significant quantities of toxic metals and chemicals. If these are left untreated and disposed off in landfills or not recycled by using proper methods of recycling, they leach into the surrounding soil, water and the atmosphere, and causes adverse effects on human health and environment. Many elements of this waste contain poisonous substances such as lead, tin, mercury, cadmium and barium, which cause severe diseases like cancer, birth defects, neurological and respiratory disorders. Some of the toxic substances of e-waste and their impact are listed below.

Table: Hazards associated with e-waste

e-waste Components	Process	Potential Occupational Hazard	Potential Environmental Hazard
Cathode ray tubes (CRTs)	Breaking and removal of copper yoke and dumping.	Silicosis. Inhalation or contact with phosphor containing cadmium or other metals.	Lead, Barium and other heavy metals leaching into groundwater, release of toxic phosphor.
Printed circuit boards	Disordering and removing computer chips.	Tin and lead Inhalation. Possible brominated dioxin, beryllium, cadmium, mercury Inhalation.	Air emission of Same substances.
Dismantled printed circuit board processing.	Open burning of waste boards to remove inside metals.	Toxicity to workers and nearby residents from tin, lead, brominated dioxin, beryllium, cadmium and mercury inhalation. Respiratory irritation.	Tin and lead Contamination of immediate Environment including surface and ground waters. Brominated Dioxins, beryllium, cadmium and Mercury emissions.
Chips and other gold plated Components.	Chemical stripping using nitric and hydrochloric acid along river banks	Acid contact with eyes, skin may result in permanent injury. Inhalation of mists and fumes of acids, chlorine and sulphur dioxide gases can cause respiratory irritation to severe effects including pulmonary edema, circulatory failure and death.	Hydrocarbons, heavy metals, brominated substances, etc., discharged directly into river and banks. Acidifies the river destroying fish and flora.
Plastics from Computer and peripherals e.g. printers keyboards, etc.	-	-	Emissions of Brominated dioxins and heavy metals and hydrocarbons.
Shredding and low temperature melting to be reutilized in poor grade plastics.	Probable hydrocarbon, Brominated dioxin and heavy metal exposure.	Brominated and chlorinated dioxin, polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are carcinogenic to workers living in the burning works area.	Hydrocarbon ashes including PAHs discharged to air, water and soil.
Miscellaneous computer parts encased in rubber or plastic e.g. steel rollers	Open burning to recover steel and other metals.	Hydrocarbon including PAHs and potential dioxin exposure.	Hydrocarbon ashes including PAHs discharged to air, water and soil.
Secondary steel or copper and precious metal smelting	Furnace recovers steel or copper from waste including organics	Exposure to dioxins and heavy metals.	Emission of dioxins and heavy metals.

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