Is E-waste Hurting Your Health?

E-waste is a problem of growing concern across North America. Because this is a difficult type of waste to manage, there are many people that are simply content to throw it in with the regular trash. Computers, televisions, printers, phones, and more are all regularly upgraded and this leads to the older electronic components often finding their way into landfills. 

E-waste has a host of challenges because they contain a variety of chemicals and toxic materials that can leach into the surrounding environment. The full extent of the waste pollution danger is not known at this time. Studies have uncovered the way that this type of pollution is making a difference today.

Inflammation And Oxidation

As we are creating nearly 50,000,000 tons of E-waste every year, it’s important to consider that the toxic organic particles that are found in E-waste can be damaging to human health. Most of the E-waste that finds its way into landfills gets exported to China and Africa because they have very little regulations on the disposal of E-waste. In the breakdown of these materials, damage can be caused through oxidation which can cause ongoing tissue damage in the lungs. 

P53 gene

P5s gene expression can be affected by e-waste too. This gene is often an indicator for cancer growth and ongoing exposure to the toxic materials in E-waste could lead to it being overly active. 

Child Development and Toxic Metals

In the cheapest recycling centers for E waste, components and cables are burnt away to expose copper and valuable metals. The exposure to the hazardous substances in the coding will often leave traces of the heavy metals in the air which can place children in the area at risk for developing nervous system problems, digestive problems, immune problems, and more. E-waste has also been linked to issues of thyroid dysfunction, birth defects, behavioral changes, and more. 

Consider the proper disposal of your E-waste to prevent harm to your health. 

This post was written by Steven Elia Co-Founder and Recycling Director at eCycle Florida. eCycle Florida is a R2 Certified electronics recycling company in the state of Florida. Our processes and procedures are dedicated to the proper destruction and recycling of your electronics. eCycle Florida is your go-to for electronic recycling in Tampa.