313
Table 18.2 Occupational hazards associated with E-waste processing
Hazardous
components
Major occurrences
Effect of hazardous components of
E-waste
Arsenic
Semiconductors, diodes,
microwaves, LEDs, solar
cells
Can affect skin and nervous system.
Chronic exposure may cause lung
cancer
Asbestos
Heat insulators
May cause shortness of breath,
coughing, permanent lung damage and
even cancer
Barium
Electron tubes, fillers for
plastic and rubbers
Can affect heart muscle
BFR (brominates
flame retardants)
Casing, circuit boards, chips Can harm reproductive and immune
systems. May cause hormonal disorder
and endocrinal malfunctions
Cadmium
Printed circuit boards,
batteries, pigments, solders,
alloys
May cause severe pain in the joints and
spine. It affects the kidneys and softens
bones
Chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC)
Refrigerants, aerosol
propellants and cleaning
solvents
It may cause skin cancer and even
genetic damage
Chromium
Dyes, pigments, switches
Can impair the liver and kidneys and
may cause asthmatic bronchitis and
lung cancer
Dioxins
Printing wiring boards
(PWB), cables and from
metal smelting
Higher risk of cancer
Lead
Various kind of batteries,
stabilizers, lasers, LEDs,
printed circuit boards,
thermoelectric elements
May affect kidneys and reproductive
and nervous systems. May cause blood
and brain disorders
Lithium
Batteries of mobiles,
photographic equipment
Lithium fumes may cause nausea,
diarrhoea, dizziness and muscle
weakness
Mercury
Batteries, copper machines,
switches, flat screen monitors
Affects the central nervous system,
kidneys, and immune system; it impairs
foetus growth. May cause brain or liver
damage and skin aliments
Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH)
Wiring, printed circuit boards Causes eye irritation, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhoea and confusion. Long-term
exposure might lead to cataracts,
kidney and liver damage and jaundice
Polyvinyl chloride
(PVC)
Cables, insulation coating
It is dangerous to the respiratory system
and immunity system
Polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB)
Transformers, capacitors,
softening agents
Carcinogenic; can affect the immunity,
reproductive system, nervous system
and endocrine system. PCBs
persistently contaminate the
environment and cause severe damage
Modified from Puckett et al. (2002)
18 Eyeing Sustainability: Electronic Waste Handling in Kolkata
Table 18.2 Occupational hazards associated with E-waste processing
Hazardous
components
Major occurrences
Effect of hazardous components of
E-waste
Arsenic
Semiconductors, diodes,
microwaves, LEDs, solar
cells
Can affect skin and nervous system.
Chronic exposure may cause lung
cancer
Asbestos
Heat insulators
May cause shortness of breath,
coughing, permanent lung damage and
even cancer
Barium
Electron tubes, fillers for
plastic and rubbers
Can affect heart muscle
BFR (brominates
flame retardants)
Casing, circuit boards, chips Can harm reproductive and immune
systems. May cause hormonal disorder
and endocrinal malfunctions
Cadmium
Printed circuit boards,
batteries, pigments, solders,
alloys
May cause severe pain in the joints and
spine. It affects the kidneys and softens
bones
Chlorofluorocarbon
(CFC)
Refrigerants, aerosol
propellants and cleaning
solvents
It may cause skin cancer and even
genetic damage
Chromium
Dyes, pigments, switches
Can impair the liver and kidneys and
may cause asthmatic bronchitis and
lung cancer
Dioxins
Printing wiring boards
(PWB), cables and from
metal smelting
Higher risk of cancer
Lead
Various kind of batteries,
stabilizers, lasers, LEDs,
printed circuit boards,
thermoelectric elements
May affect kidneys and reproductive
and nervous systems. May cause blood
and brain disorders
Lithium
Batteries of mobiles,
photographic equipment
Lithium fumes may cause nausea,
diarrhoea, dizziness and muscle
weakness
Mercury
Batteries, copper machines,
switches, flat screen monitors
Affects the central nervous system,
kidneys, and immune system; it impairs
foetus growth. May cause brain or liver
damage and skin aliments
Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAH)
Wiring, printed circuit boards Causes eye irritation, nausea, vomiting,
diarrhoea and confusion. Long-term
exposure might lead to cataracts,
kidney and liver damage and jaundice
Polyvinyl chloride
(PVC)
Cables, insulation coating
It is dangerous to the respiratory system
and immunity system
Polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB)
Transformers, capacitors,
softening agents
Carcinogenic; can affect the immunity,
reproductive system, nervous system
and endocrine system. PCBs
persistently contaminate the
environment and cause severe damage
Modified from Puckett et al. (2002)
18 Eyeing Sustainability: Electronic Waste Handling in Kolkata