214
Pollutants
Components of the
electrical and
electronic equipment
Effects to humans
Source of
exposure
Route of
exposure
References
Temporary
Permanent
Chromium
Data tapes, floppy
disk, switches, solar
Bronchitis
Carcinogenic
Air, dust, water,
and soil
Inhalation and
ingestion
Cobalt
Insulator
Thyroid damage
Vision problems, heart
problems, vomiting and
nausea
Copper
Conductor cables,
coils, circuitry,
wiring
Liver and kidney damage,
Wilson’s disease
Irritation in nose, mouth,
headaches, dizziness,
vomiting, diarrhoea
Lead
Cathode-ray tube
screens, transistors,
lasers, light-emitting
diode,
thermoelectrical
elements,
Toxic to human, plants,
and animals
Fatigue, sleeplessness,
arthritis, hallucinations,
vertigo, headache,
hypertension
Lithium
Lithium batteries
Air, soil, water,
and food
Inhalation,
ingestion, and
thermal contact
Mercury
Fluorescent lamps,
alkaline batteries
Damages nervous system Bioaccumulation,
neurological and
behavioural changes
Air, vapour, water,
soil, and food
Inhalation,
ingestion
Selenium
Older photocopying
machines as
photosensitive drums
Lung tissue damage,
oxidative damage in
tissues
Headaches, diarrhoea
Beryllium
Motherboard
Lung cancer, berylliosis
Headache, diarrhoea
Dust, air, food,
water
Inhalation,
ingestion
Rare earth elements
Fluorescent layer
Brain, heart, liver damage Birth defects
K. Grace Pavithra et al.