A joint research team from China and the US has been studying the effects of e-waste recycling on both people and the environment.
Recycled electronic waste may be the next major environmental issue on the horizon for developing countries as they try to deal with high pollution levels and a degrading environment. Scientists have now uncovered that the chemicals and toxins emitted by recycling e-waste could pose severe environmental and health risks.
Scientists in both China and the US used various toxic elements, separated from a recycling workshop at an e-waste facility within China’s Shantou City. Using base technology, they filtered out the reusable electronic components from items like computers, mobile phones and other items. After researching the chemical make-up of the compounds, researchers concluded that same even contain cancer causing agents.
Bernd R T Simoneit, currently a researcher at Oregon State University, said that the most immediate problem is the health risk posed to the workers and residents in the southern Chinese city. He added that an estimated five tones of material have been processed using the cancer causing chemicals. He said while some chemicals are potential carcinogens, others could pose threats to other body processes like hormonal functions or reproduction.
|
|
