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Workers in these countries earn less than $0.17 per day salvaging whatever is left. The remains are highly toxic and often dumped in the waterways, on farm land, along roadsides, or burned.
"All e-waste contains mercury and lead, and the practices of open burning of plastic waste, exposure to toxic solders, river dumping of acids, and widespread general dumping has become a threat to villagers' health and environment"
Public Affairs Information Service
"About 50 percent of the electronics waste sent into these areas is discarded. Lead levels in some rivers have been found to be 190 times higher than levels considered acceptable by the World Health Organization. Villagers report stomach and breathing problems, and have to ship in their drinking water."
National Public Radio
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Open burning of wires and other parts is done to recover metals such as steel and copper. Dioxins and furans are released into the atomosphere due to the use of PVCs and brominated flame retardants in these components.
Basel Action Network, December 2001
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