HARMFUL EFFECTS
CAUSED BY IMPROPER COMPUTER & ELECTRONICS RECYCLING
Computing systems
are comprised of more than 1,000 materials, many
of which are highly toxic to our air, land and
water systems. These components include chlorinated
and brominated substances, toxic gases, toxic
metals, photo-active and biologically active
materials, acids, plastics and plastic additives.
Toxic materials
in computer components include:
- Lead and
cadmium in computer circuit boards
- Lead oxide
and barium in computer monitors' cathode
ray tubes
- Mercury in
switches and flat screens and
- Brominated
flame retardants on printed circuit boards,
cables and plastic casing.
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The lead inside of the glass in monitors
protects us from radiation that is given
off by the computer monitor. This radiation
can be harmful to us if the leaded screen
was not there.
However, the cathode ray tubes (CRTs)
-- or picture tubes -- found in color
monitors
and TVs leach, on average, more than
four
times the amount of lead the Environmental
Protection Agency defines as hazardous
when they are crushed in landfills. |
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