215
mercury, lithium etc. from Electronic-waste when improperly disposed leach to the
soil and reach groundwater channels. Some of the heavy metals are found to be
carcinogenic, and intake of contaminated water by humans and land animals creates
major health issues.
11.5.3 Effects on Soil
Toxic heavy metals from Electronic-waste enter to humans by “soil-crop-food pathway”, the effects of which are birth defects and brain, heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal system damage. When computer monitors and electronics are burned,
cancer-producing dioxins are released into the air, and if thrown in landfills, the
toxins may leach into groundwater. Table 11.2 represents the toxic substances and
their health impacts.
Table 11.2 Common toxic substances associated with electronic-waste and their health impacts
S. No Substances
Way of
exposure
Health issues
1.
Antimony
Ingestion,
inhalation, skin
contact
Damages the blood, kidneys, lungs, nervous
system, liver, and mucous membranes
2.
Cobalt
Inhalation,
ingestion
Organ damage, toxic to lungs, and carcinogenic
effects
3.
Gallium
Ingestion,
inhalation, skin
contact
Toxic to lungs, mucous membrane, severe
exposure leads to death
4.
Copper
Inhalation,
ingestion
Results in death, toxic to lungs and mucous
membranes, organ damage
5.
Arsenic
Skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy,
gastrointestinal symptoms, diabetes, renal system
effects, cancer, and cardiovascular disease
6.
Cadmium
Inhalation,
ingestion
Accumulation in kidney and liver, human
carcinogen, and has toxic effects on the kidney,
skeletal system, and respiratory system
7.
Dioxins
Toxic and cause chloracne, damage immune
system, interfere with hormones and cause
cancer
8.
Barium
Inhalation,
ingestion
Short-term muscle weakness and damages heart
9.
Beryllium
Ingestion, skin
contact
Carcinogenic, chronic beryllium disease, warts,
etc.
10.
Chlorofluorocarbons Contact,
inhalation
Potent greenhouse gas. Direct exposure causes
unconsciousness, irregular heartbeat, drowsiness,
coughing, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, eye
redness, and pain
Sources: Compendium (2016)
11 Sustainable Electronic-Waste Management: Implications on Environmental…
mercury, lithium etc. from Electronic-waste when improperly disposed leach to the
soil and reach groundwater channels. Some of the heavy metals are found to be
carcinogenic, and intake of contaminated water by humans and land animals creates
major health issues.
11.5.3 Effects on Soil
Toxic heavy metals from Electronic-waste enter to humans by “soil-crop-food pathway”, the effects of which are birth defects and brain, heart, liver, kidney, and skeletal system damage. When computer monitors and electronics are burned,
cancer-producing dioxins are released into the air, and if thrown in landfills, the
toxins may leach into groundwater. Table 11.2 represents the toxic substances and
their health impacts.
Table 11.2 Common toxic substances associated with electronic-waste and their health impacts
S. No Substances
Way of
exposure
Health issues
1.
Antimony
Ingestion,
inhalation, skin
contact
Damages the blood, kidneys, lungs, nervous
system, liver, and mucous membranes
2.
Cobalt
Inhalation,
ingestion
Organ damage, toxic to lungs, and carcinogenic
effects
3.
Gallium
Ingestion,
inhalation, skin
contact
Toxic to lungs, mucous membrane, severe
exposure leads to death
4.
Copper
Inhalation,
ingestion
Results in death, toxic to lungs and mucous
membranes, organ damage
5.
Arsenic
Skin lesions, peripheral neuropathy,
gastrointestinal symptoms, diabetes, renal system
effects, cancer, and cardiovascular disease
6.
Cadmium
Inhalation,
ingestion
Accumulation in kidney and liver, human
carcinogen, and has toxic effects on the kidney,
skeletal system, and respiratory system
7.
Dioxins
Toxic and cause chloracne, damage immune
system, interfere with hormones and cause
cancer
8.
Barium
Inhalation,
ingestion
Short-term muscle weakness and damages heart
9.
Beryllium
Ingestion, skin
contact
Carcinogenic, chronic beryllium disease, warts,
etc.
10.
Chlorofluorocarbons Contact,
inhalation
Potent greenhouse gas. Direct exposure causes
unconsciousness, irregular heartbeat, drowsiness,
coughing, difficulty in breathing, sore throat, eye
redness, and pain
Sources: Compendium (2016)
11 Sustainable Electronic-Waste Management: Implications on Environmental…