Er. Neeraj Dubey
In this era of Globalization, where the developed nations in the entire world are thinking about economic development and technological advancements without even bothering about its impact to atmosphere & human life, most of the peoples in this world are aware of the conventional waste which is a cause of water, air, noise and dust pollution. But very few people seem to be aware about a new kind of pollution which now a days may pose a great threat to the human life as well to the atmosphere and may cause havoc in the near future. This new kind of pollution is termed as E- Pollution in simple words or “Electromagnetic Pollution”. Electronic waste, e-waste or e-scrap. Some electronic scrap components, such as CRTs, may contain contaminants such as lead, cadmium, beryllium, or brominated flame retardants.
“Electronic waste” may be defined as discarded computers, office electronic equipment, entertainment device electronics, mobile phones, television sets and refrigerators. This definition includes used electronics which are destined for reuse, resale, salvage, recycling, or disposal. Cathode ray tubes (CRT) are considered one of the hardest types to recycle. CRTs have relatively high concentration of lead and phosphors , both of which are necessary for the display. Rapid changes in technology, changes in media (tapes, software, MP3), falling prices, and planned obsolescence have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe. Most of the environmentalists, regards electronic waste as a “rapidly expanding” issue. Technical solutions are available, but in most cases a legal framework, a collection system, logistics, and other services need to be implemented before a technical solution can be applied. Display units (CRT, LCD, LED monitors), Processors (CPU chips, RAM), and audio components have different useful lives. Processors are most frequently out-dated (by software) and are more likely to become “e-waste”, while display units are most often replaced while working without repair attempts, due to changes in wealthy nation appetites for new display technology.
An estimated 50 million tons of E-waste are produced each year. The USA discards 30 million computers each year and 100 million phones are disposed of in Europe each year. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15-20% of e-waste is recycled, the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills and incinerators. According to a report by UNEP titled, “Recycling – from E-Waste to Resources,” the amount of e-waste being produced – including mobile phones and computers – could rise by as much as 500 percent over the next decade in some countries, such as India. The United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste, tossing away about 3 million tons each year. China already produces about 2.3 million tons (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States. And, despite having banned e-waste imports, China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed countries. Electrical waste contains hazardous but also valuable and scarce materials. Recycling of copper, silver, gold, and other materials from discarded electronic devices is considered better for the environment than mining. They also state that repair and reuse of computers and televisions has become a “lost art” in wealthier nations, and that refurbishing has traditionally been a path to development. South Korea, Taiwan, and southern China all excelled in finding “retained value” in used goods, and in some cases have set up billion-dollar industries in refurbishing used ink cartridges, single-use cameras, and working CRTs. Today the electronic waste recycling business is in all areas of the developed world a large and rapidly consolidating business.
In addition to its damaging effect on the environment and its illegal smuggling into developing countries, researchers have now linked e-waste to adverse effects on human health, such as inflammation and oxidative stress – precursors to cardiovascular disease, DNA damage and possibly cancer. On seeing the adverse effects of E-Waste, both on the atmosphere as well as on the human health, all the developing nations must need to take precautionary as well preventive measures to tackle this vulnerable issue more effectively.
(The author is Senior Faculty member GCET – Jammu)
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