208
11.3 Positive and Negative Effects of Electronic-Waste
Positive Impact A research stated that (IBT 2012) 40–50 times of metals which
are found to be precious are recovered from the Electronic-waste than from their
native ores, and it was stated that for each year $21 billion of valuable metals are
accumulated in Electronic-waste. The metals such as indium, palladium, silver, copper, and gold are often found in Electronic-waste. Forty per cent of valuable metals
are recovered from printed boards (Golev et al. 2016), and it is stated that 320 tons
of gold and 7500 tons of silver are used by electronic industries every year
(BullionStreet 2012). In the Electronic-waste stream, notebooks, tablets, and smartphones are considered as valuable products due to the presence of high amount of
precious metals (Cucchiella et al. 2015).
Negative Impact According to StEP in 2012 analysis, China and the United
States contribute larger amount of Electronic-waste and waste electrical and electronic equipment with 11.1 million tons in China and 10 million tons from the
United States. Now the scenario was found to be reversed from 2012 to upcoming
years due to per capita average Electronic-waste trash being 29.8 kg, which is six
times higher than China that figures 5.4 kg. The hazardous contaminants such as
lead, cadmium, beryllium, iron, copper, aluminium and gold contribute 60% of
Electronic-waste. Among those hazardous substances, lead is used in many electronic devices, which results in environmental contaminations. Children are normally vulnerable to lead poisoning more than the adults are as lead attacks the
nervous system directly and it damages the human reproductive system. Cadmium
affects the respiratory system, accumulates in the human kidney, and is also associated with bone disease. It causes bioaccumulation in the environment and is
found to be extremely toxic to living beings. They are found in rechargeable batteries of computers. Mercury used as a lighting device like monitors and televisions affects the digestive, nervous, and immune systems. It also affects lungs,
kidneys, skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms, which include insomnia,
memory loss, tremors, headaches, and dysfunction, are found. Polychlorinated
biphenyls and mercury are seen in breast milk. In a research, which was done in
China Electronic-waste, recycling processing site proves that the polychlorinated
biphenyl and mercury level is seen higher in breast milk under this study (Ceballos
and Dong 2016, UNU 2014). Hexavalent chromium is used in the process of a
metal housing for many electrical and electronic components. Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen, and it irritates the lung, nose, and throat. Electronic-waste
with or without treatment enters into aquatic systems via leaching from dumpsites
or from landfills and spreads via dust, and it enters into the human body via ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption.
K. Grace Pavithra et al.
11.3 Positive and Negative Effects of Electronic-Waste
Positive Impact A research stated that (IBT 2012) 40–50 times of metals which
are found to be precious are recovered from the Electronic-waste than from their
native ores, and it was stated that for each year $21 billion of valuable metals are
accumulated in Electronic-waste. The metals such as indium, palladium, silver, copper, and gold are often found in Electronic-waste. Forty per cent of valuable metals
are recovered from printed boards (Golev et al. 2016), and it is stated that 320 tons
of gold and 7500 tons of silver are used by electronic industries every year
(BullionStreet 2012). In the Electronic-waste stream, notebooks, tablets, and smartphones are considered as valuable products due to the presence of high amount of
precious metals (Cucchiella et al. 2015).
Negative Impact According to StEP in 2012 analysis, China and the United
States contribute larger amount of Electronic-waste and waste electrical and electronic equipment with 11.1 million tons in China and 10 million tons from the
United States. Now the scenario was found to be reversed from 2012 to upcoming
years due to per capita average Electronic-waste trash being 29.8 kg, which is six
times higher than China that figures 5.4 kg. The hazardous contaminants such as
lead, cadmium, beryllium, iron, copper, aluminium and gold contribute 60% of
Electronic-waste. Among those hazardous substances, lead is used in many electronic devices, which results in environmental contaminations. Children are normally vulnerable to lead poisoning more than the adults are as lead attacks the
nervous system directly and it damages the human reproductive system. Cadmium
affects the respiratory system, accumulates in the human kidney, and is also associated with bone disease. It causes bioaccumulation in the environment and is
found to be extremely toxic to living beings. They are found in rechargeable batteries of computers. Mercury used as a lighting device like monitors and televisions affects the digestive, nervous, and immune systems. It also affects lungs,
kidneys, skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms, which include insomnia,
memory loss, tremors, headaches, and dysfunction, are found. Polychlorinated
biphenyls and mercury are seen in breast milk. In a research, which was done in
China Electronic-waste, recycling processing site proves that the polychlorinated
biphenyl and mercury level is seen higher in breast milk under this study (Ceballos
and Dong 2016, UNU 2014). Hexavalent chromium is used in the process of a
metal housing for many electrical and electronic components. Hexavalent chromium is a carcinogen, and it irritates the lung, nose, and throat. Electronic-waste
with or without treatment enters into aquatic systems via leaching from dumpsites
or from landfills and spreads via dust, and it enters into the human body via ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption.
K. Grace Pavithra et al.