E-waste is electronic products such as computers, phones, and TVs that are discarded and not recycled properly. Over 40 million tons of e-waste is produced worldwide each year, but only 13% is recycled. E-waste contains toxic materials like lead, mercury, and cadmium that can cause health issues if they leach into soil and water from landfills. Burning e-waste releases dioxins and fine particles that cause respiratory problems. The toxic materials in e-waste can damage almost every human organ system and cause problems like learning issues in children. Improper disposal of e-waste poses serious threats to both human health and the environment.

1. HOW E-WASTE IS HARMFUL TO
YOUR HEALTH

2. E-waste is a term used for electronic products and computers that
are thrown out, including laptops, tablets, printers, phones, game
consoles, televisions, and DVD players, to name a few. Over 40
million tons of e-waste is produced worldwide every year, and only
about 13% of that e-waste is recycled. As newer electronics are
produced, older electronics become obsolete, and all too often are
not disposed of properly.
To visualize how much 40 million tons is, the amount of e-waste
produced yearly is equal to approximately 400 aircraft carriers in
weight. Picture 348 aircraft carriers (87% of 400) being tossed into
landfills every year, and that number continuing to grow, and it
becomes clear that recycling e-waste has to become a priority.
http://www.allgreenrecycling.com

3. What Discarded Electronics Do to the
Environment
E-waste can’t simply be burned like some garbage. Burning e-waste
creates very fine particles, which are then breathed in and can cause
pulmonary and cardiovascular disease. Cancer-producing dioxins are
released into the air whenever e-waste is burned. E-waste must be
properly disposed of to prevent causing damage to the environment
and posing a health threat, and the very best disposal method for the
environment is recycling obsolete computers and other electronics.
The list of toxic components in e-waste is long: mercury, lead,
cadmium, polyromantic flame retardants, barium, lithium and
polyvinyl chloride (which is in the plastic cases of electronics). If
electronics aren’t safely and responsibly recycled, that toxic mix in
landfills seeps into the soil and water, poisoning it.
http://www.allgreenrecycling.com

4. Lethal materials that shouldn’t be consumed damage the soil
food is grown in, the plants and grains that livestock eats,
and the water needed to water crops, as well as drinking
water for livestock and humans. Toxic metals, like lead, can
contaminate drinking water, which is already a precious
commodity worldwide as multiple areas face record droughts
and try to find ways to conserve water. A single computer
monitor has approximately 5 to 8 pounds of lead in it.
http://www.allgreenrecycling.com

5. How E-Waste Is Harmful to Your Health
The toxic components in e-waste have the ability to damage
almost every system in the human body: the nervous system,
reproductive system and skeletal system, as well as the
brain, heart, liver and kidneys, and also causes birth defects.
Exposure to improperly disposed of chlorine causes the
destruction of cell structure and tissue damage. Cadmium is
found in cell phone batteries and can cause problems with
learning, cognition, behavior and neuromotor skills in
children. It can also cause kidney damage.
The poison arsenic is another way in how e-waste is harmful
to your health. Arsenic is found in many electronics, including
cell phones. High doses of arsenic are lethal, while lower
levels of exposure can cause detrimental damage to the
nervous and respiratory systems as well as the skin and liver.
http://www.allgreenrecycling.com

6. If the e-waste equivalent of 348 aircraft carriers
continues to be dumped into landfills yearly, by the
year 2020 another 200 million tons of toxic-filled
electronics will be seeping into the soil and water.
The simple act of recycling obsolete electronics
protects the planet as well as the health and safety
of people everywhere.
http://www.allgreenrecycling.com

7. Website: http://www.allgreenrecycling.com
All Green Recycling
info@allgreenrecycling.com
(800) 780-0347
Sources:
• http://www.e-cycle.com/tag/e-waste-effects-to-the-human-
body/
• http://www.greencitizen.com/learn-more/harmful-effects/
• http://fuelcity.org/
• http://www.allgreenrecycling.com/blog/how-e-waste-is-
harmful-to-your-health/