Source of E-wastes |
Constituent |
Health Effects |
Solder in printed circuit boards, glass panels and gaskets in computer monitors |
Lead (PB) |
• |
Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems and kidney damage. |
• |
Affects brain development of children. |
|
Chip resistors and semiconductors |
Cadmium (CD) |
• |
Toxic irreversible effects on human health. |
• |
Accumulates in kidney and liver. |
• |
Causes neural damage. |
• |
Teratogenic. |
|
Relays and switches, printed circuit boards |
Mercury (Hg) |
• |
Chronic damage to the brain. |
• |
Respiratory and skin disorders due to bioaccumulation in fishes. |
|
Corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized steel plates, decorator or hardner for steel housings |
Hexavalent chromium (Cr) VI |
• |
Asthmatic bronchitis. |
• |
DNA damage. |
|
Cabling and computer housing |
Plastics including PVC |
Burning produces dioxin. It causes |
• |
Reproductive and developmental problems; |
• |
Immune system damage; |
• |
Interfere with regulatory hormones |
|
Plastic housing of electronic equipments and circuit boards. |
Brominated flame retardants (BFR) |
• |
Disrupts endocrine system functions |
|
Front panel of CRTs |
Barium (Ba) |
Short term exposure causes: |
• |
Muscle weakness; |
• |
Damage to heart, liver and spleen. |
|
Motherboard |
Beryllium (Be) |
• |
Carcinogenic (lung cancer) |
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Inhalation of fumes and dust. Causes chronic beryllium disease or beryllicosis. |
• |
Skin diseases such as warts |
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