Electronic Waste Threaten Survival Of Humanity In The 21st Century

Research

Electronic waste or e-waste describes as discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal are also considered e-waste today has become one of the greatest 21st Century Threat to Humanity that leads to many changes in the world.

E-waste is also a popular, informal name for electronic products nearing the end of their “useful life.” Computers, televisions, VCRs, stereos, copiers, and fax machines are common electronic products. Many of these products can be reused, refurbished, or recycled.

As you know most of the us at the current context we Instead of reusing or recycling people just threw the products therefore, the entire environment gets polluted and unclean. Apart from that, all chemicals and unwanted air will release to the environment and it will ultimately effect on human’s body.

Informal processing of e-waste in developing countries can lead to adverse human health effects and environmental pollution. Electronic scrap components, such as CPUs, contain potentially harmful components such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants.

E-waste-connected health risks may result from direct contact with harmful materials such as lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants or polychlorinated biphenyls from inhalation of toxic fumes, as well as from accumulation of chemicals in soil, water and food.

Some countries and companies have instituted bans on exporting e-waste to dumps. Today a globally waste trade and electronic waste by country is taking place. The theory is that increased regulations of electronic wastes and concern over the environmental harm in nature of the economics creates an economic disincentive to remove residues prior to export. Critics of trade in used electronics maintain that it is still too easy for brokers calling themselves recyclers to export unscreened electronic waste to developing countries. As result of that The developing countries have become toxic dump yards of e-waste. Developing countries receiving foreign e-waste often go further to repair and recycle forsaken equipment Yet still 90% of e-waste ended up in landfills in developing countries in 2003. Proponents of international trade point to the success of fair trade programs in other industries, where cooperation has led to creation of sustainable jobs and can bring affordable technology in countries where repair and reuse rates are higher.

As you may know with advancement technology and recycling process most of the today products are made up of recycled raw materials. For example, one way e-waste is processed is by melting circuit boards, burning cable sheathing to recover copper wire and open- pit acid leaching for separating metals of value. Conventional method employed is mechanical shredding and separation but the recycling efficiency is low. Alternative methods such as cryogenic composition have been studied for printed circuit board recycling and some other methods are still under investigation. As solutions we may look towards having proper disposing of or reusing electronics can help prevent health problems, reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, and create jobs Reuse and refurbishing offer a more environmentally friendly and socially conscious alternative to down cycling processes.