E WASTE BUSTERS (PHI THETA KAPPA HIA 2020) PART 2 of 2
When e-waste is burned, disposed of or recycled improperly it harms the environment and poisons people by putting dangerous pollutants into the air and the ground. Additionally, improperly disposing of e-waste poisons the drinking water of animals in and around the property of the facility by creating drain-off into other parts of the surrounding countryside. The world is large, but it is all connected. These dangerous poisons will eventually make it back to humans one way or another. A study, done by Pornpilai Thanomsangad et al in 2019, completed research focused on heavy metal accumulation in frogs surrounding an e-waste dump site. The study was funded by Khon Kaen University in Thailand. (An important side note - who the research is funded by is as important as what the research finds because of bias and conflict of interest. This study has no conflict of interest in its funding.) The following is an attempt to sum up the 17-page research paper. The researchers tested for heavy metals in the water and soil of the surrounding areas. They also tested the accumulation of the metals in frogs. The concentration in the frogs exceeded the food standard as noted by the FDIC. If the frogs were to be consumed by any of the locals, or even by other animals and then those animals eaten by humans, the adverse health effects and risk of cancer becomes highly possible for the locals that live in the area. It’s important to also look at the long-term effects of the situation. This is only one of many poorly managed electronic waste sites around the world. What happens when the water surrounding these many areas pours off into other bodies of water and then off into the oceans? How long will it take to get back to humans? If e-waste continues on the same track - soon the heavy metals will be everywhere in all food. Knowing the negative impact e-waste has on the environment and those who live in and around processing facilities, it is important to ensure e-waste is processed by responsible e-stewardship companies rather than conventional recycling companies and/or landfills. In many instances, conventional recycling companies attempt to avoid the expenses of processing less profitable materials which are either disposed of through incineration or dumped in landfills. In either instance pollution is being pumped into the environment and poisoning the air we breathe, or the water we drink. What is an e-stewardship? E-stewardship focus on the preservation of the environment by taking precautionary steps during the processes involved in the extraction of precious metals from e-waste. E-stewardship companies also make sure that the chemical bi products and plastics are properly processed and that they make their way to a final processing destination to be recycled and reused as consumer goods. People on the opposite side of the argument believe recycling services do not properly recycle E-waste. Those that do not believe E-waste is an issue just dump their old electronics in landfills further contributing to the pollution in the environment. It is wrong to dump e-waste into landfills because it pollutes the environment. E-waste should be dropped off at an E-stewards facility because they properly dispose of E-waste. Not all companies follow this procedure. E-stewards are doing their part to keep E-waste out of landfills. I. Dumping e-waste wherever possible can allow harmful chemicals to escape once it begins to decompose II. Clandestine dumpsites can become play destinations for developing youngsters ,who then become exposed with the harmful chemicals associated with e-waste III. Purchasing new electronics to replace old electronics rare metals found in old electronics can affect groundwater and infest it with neurotics IV. Recycling e-waste with any recycling facility most fail to process e-waste correctly and instead send the e-waste to major foreign dumpsites where circumstances are worse I. Many think it is not worth their while, and it does not benefit them individually, so the practice becomes deprioritized. II. Some electronics are difficult to disassemble, therefore producing a sense inside their minds that it should not be recycled. III. Lack of knowledge impacts a significant amount of choices individuals make. IV. Unreliable collection services, as well as undecided on what to recycle or with what to recycle.
