Environmental Hazards Caused by E-Waste
source: http://neodobby.blogspot.com/2009/02/electronic-waste-causing-environmental.html
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- neodobby
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*This is an excerpt from a report I did based on one of the great Vanguard productions by Laura Ling* - http://current.com/items/76355482_pollution-to-protest.htm
As the production of electronics has increased, so has the amount of electronic waste. One of the biggest problems with e-waste is that much of it is shipped from developed nations to third-world countries. Approximately 50 tons of e-waste is produced globally every year. In towns like Guiyu and Nanyang of Southern China, people work to dispose of electronic waste, not in factories, but near their own homes, earning around $12 a day, these workers, of various ages, often burn the waste, which creates harmful exposure to toxic chemicals.
Assuming that exportation will continue, there are still positive changes that can be made to alleviate the level of health risks faced by e-waste disposers. There still needs to be strict ratification and enforcement of laws regarding the setting and process of disposing, recycling or repairing electronics, if there is expected to be any turnaround in the negative effects of the current process. There needs to be laws requiring that electronics be treated in a factories, rather than in residential areas; and workers should be provided with gear and equipment that will ensure there safety and well being while working.
As the production of electronics has increased, so has the amount of electronic waste. One of the biggest problems with e-waste is that much of it is shipped from developed nations to third-world countries. Approximately 50 tons of e-waste is produced globally every year. In towns like Guiyu and Nanyang of Southern China, people work to dispose of electronic waste, not in factories, but near their own homes, earning around $12 a day, these workers, of various ages, often burn the waste, which creates harmful exposure to toxic chemicals.
Assuming that exportation will continue, there are still positive changes that can be made to alleviate the level of health risks faced by e-waste disposers. There still needs to be strict ratification and enforcement of laws regarding the setting and process of disposing, recycling or repairing electronics, if there is expected to be any turnaround in the negative effects of the current process. There needs to be laws requiring that electronics be treated in a factories, rather than in residential areas; and workers should be provided with gear and equipment that will ensure there safety and well being while working.
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- groups:
- Green
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- tags:
- Green, Environmentalism, Electronics, E-waste
