E-waste contains hazardous substances that are harmful to the environment and human health if not properly treated or disposed of, therefore they must be handled with care. What are the health hazards which can be caused by e-waste?
Electronic waste or e-waste describes discarded electrical or electronic devices. Used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling or disposal are also considered e-waste. E-waste recycling spews dioxins into the air. E-waste recycling using uncontrolled processes is a major source of dioxin-related compounds. Air around e-waste recycling areas in Guiyu, China, contains the highest levels of dioxins ever recorded. When computers, televisions, music systems, and other electronic products reach the ends of their lives, they often end up in China or other developing countries as e-waste. Such waste is a serious environmental threat in these parts of the world because of the poorly regulated conditions under which the waste is dismantled. E-waste affectsbrain, lungs and all over the body. There is also evidence of cell membrane lesion, cause DNA single-strand breaks. DNA breaks can increase the likelihood of developing cancer. DNA damages are a special problem in non-dividing or slowly dividing cells, where unrepaired damages will tend to accumulate over time. On the other hand, in rapidly dividing cells, unrepaired DNA damages that do not kill the cell by blocking replication will tend to cause replication errors and thus mutation.