E-waste & health
Living in the digital age, it is hard to imagine life without the interconnectivity smart phones provide us. Digital technology is embedded deeper into our daily lives than we ever thought possible. The benefits of technology are all around us, some examples including: access to the vast databases of the internet, faster communication speeds, access to trade and public services, and increased social connectivity. However, although many know the benefits, there is a overwhelming lack of awareness in regard to the darker side of our extensive use of technology.
According to Purdue University “Electronics are filled with chemicals and substances that are harmful to human health and the environment, including toxic metals, flame retardants, and persistent organic pollutants. If not recycled, these chemicals can contaminate landfills and enter the water supply through leachate”(E-Waste, 2). The threat of E-waste on human health is being exacerbated by the drive of consumerism in the tech world. More often than not, we discard our technology prematurely due to new incompatible softwares, technology trends, or damages/defects that can still be fixed. Tech companies, such as Apple and Samsung, have no incentive to work toward a sustainable business model because new customers (and new phones) means more profit.
As the life cycles of tech products continue to shorten, we are creating immense amounts of unnecessary E-waste in our nations landfills. Not only is this lack of consumer knowledge an issue, when properly recycled, technology can still pose a threat to human health. According to Purdue University “Some of the processing used in e-waste recycling involves chemicals stronger than those in the items themselves. Workers in countries with more informal rules and structure, such as India and China, are seeing large increases in electronic waste and are particularly vulnerable to workplace hazards from e-waste recycling.”(E-Waste, 2). In order to mitigate the potential hazards of e-waste on human health, electronics manufacturing companies will need to divert more funds to recycling programs and take extra precautions throughout the hazardous processes to ensure no risk to human health.
Smith, Amy, and Tyra H Pogar. “E-Waste: The Hidden Dangers of Technology.” Purdueglobal, Purdue University, 10 Sept. 2015, www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/information-technology/ewaste-hidden-dangers/.
