It’s impossible to count all the ways that mankind benefits from modern technology. From providing greater access to knowledge via the Internet to facilitating life-saving medical advances, our society relies heavily on an array of electronic devices so much that they sometimes feel like extensions of the human body. Yet there is an often undiscussed dark side of such progress.
At Newtech Recycling, we know all too well the effects of e-waste on human health. Far from being an extension of natural biology, today’s electronic equipment actually contains many materials that are poisonous to humans, animals, and the environment. At our cutting-edge recycling facilities, we use specialized machinery to safely break down old computers, mobile devices, TVs, printers, photocopiers, and more into component parts that can be reintroduced into the manufacturing process.
When handled responsibly, e-waste materials pose little threat. But when people carelessly discard their unwanted tech in landfills instead of recycling them, it allows those same materials to seep into the food we eat, the water we drink, and the air we breathe. As electronics become increasingly ubiquitous, it’s important to understand e-waste effects on the human body and what we can do to make about them.
E-Waste Is a Serious Health Crisis…
The severity of e-waste effects on the human body cannot be understated. Exposure to the lead and mercury left behind by improper cell phone battery disposal can result in damage to the brain, kidneys, and nervous system. Exposure to the cadmium and chromium in computers can diminish bone density, lead to cancer, and even negatively alter a person’s DNA. Daniel Foley, director at Assertive Media, told us that some popular cell phone brands have found themselves under fire for the pollution and radiation their devices give off. “Quite recently Apple and Samsung were caught with the amount of radiation their handheld devices gave off.”
In the Chinese town of Guiyu, lack of regulation turned the area into the world’s largest electronics landfill, providing humanity with a sobering wake-up call about the deadly effects of e-waste on human help. With hundreds of truckloads of old computers, televisions, mobile devices, and similar tech being dumped in Guiyu every day, locals saw cancer and miscarriage rates soar. Respiratory and neurological disease became widespread among the population, and over 80% of Guiyu’s children suffered life-threatening lead poisoning.
…and a Worldwide Emergency
Since news broke about the effects of e-waste on human health exhibited in Guiyu, efforts have been made to clean up the Chinese town. However, while Guiyu has been the most public face of the e-waste crisis, it’s not the only place where electronics are improperly disposed of in alarming numbers. In fact, with modern technology becoming more affordable and indispensable, most country’s e-waste laws struggle to catch up. And, yes, that includes right here in America.
More than 50 million metric tons of e-waste is produced worldwide every year, with 6.9 million of that occurring in the U.S. alone. Discarded electronics now account for 70% of all landfill soil pollution. From there, hazardous materials are absorbed into the local ecosystem where it quickly spreads. E-waste contaminants can travel thousands of miles on currents of air or dissolve in water to trigger acidification. From there it’s also too easy for these materials to enter our bodies and wreak havoc.
Newtech Recycling Helps Protect You from E-Waste
Laura Fuentes with Infinity Dish explained, “The substances from e-waste may cause severe health issues in humans, such as brain damage, lung cancer, DNA damage, and acute bronchitis. The best way to prevent e-waste damage is to educate consumers on what it is and how to dispose of e-waste properly.” Proper disposal of e-waste is exactly what NewTech Recycling is here to do.
With all the varied and potentially deadly effects of e-waste on human health, it’s up to all of us to be responsible in recycling our old and broken tech devices. Newtech Recycling makes it easy with affordable recycling programs in PA and other service areas that include flexible scheduling, collection, and removal services. Whether you’re responsible for overseeing a small business or a large corporate headquarters, it’s important to us to make the process as easy as possible.
At Newtech Recycling, we know all about e-waste effects on the human body. We want to protect you and your loved ones, as well as future generations, from those effects. If you value your health and the environment like we do, contact Newtech Recycling today. Let’s work together to make the world a safer place.