E-waste culprits named but health risks not specified.
A news story in Nigeria's Daily Independent warns about health risks of e-waste in developing countries but does not provide specifics about potential health effects.
A recent news article by Nigeria’s Daily Independent nicely depicts the current enthusiasm for used computers and phones in that country's local markets. The reporter adeptly explains that most people in the developing country don't know about – or outright reject – the health risks related to electronic waste (e-waste).
However, the article does not mention any specifics about the health consequences related to the toxicants found in e-waste, although it cites lead, cadmium, mercury, beryllium and brominated flame retardants as toxicants.
E-waste is a fast-growing waste stream in many areas of the world. Most developing countries do not have the technical and regulatory structure to safely deal with the huge amounts that flood into their borders.
The obsolete televisions, computers and phones contain significant amounts of toxic chemicals. For example, older televisions or computer monitors can contain lead. Lead is one of the best studied neurotoxicants in children, and it can cause severe deficits in cognition and behavior at high exposure levels. Lead is also related to high blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality in previous studies.
Other major pollutants in e-waste are mercury and flame retardants. Mercury is also a developmental toxicant, especially after bacteria in water transform it into methymercury. The brominated flame retardants are hormonally active because of their similarity with thyroid hormone. They may affect nervous system development at high exposure levels.
Workers who repair or recycle e-waste without appropriate protection can be dangerously exposed. The contamination can also enter the environment and affect local people.
This article is right on cautioning workers of potential risk, but it would benefit by more discussion of known health effects associated with the toxicants in e-waste. Then, readers could better understand the risks of using and working with these materials.
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Based on a work at www.environmentalhealthnews.org.
