Electronic Waste Essay

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Electronic waste (e-waste) is any discarded refuse created by discarded electronics. The disposal of e-waste has become a growing problem in countries all around the globe because of accelerated economic growth, urbanization and consumerism. It poses a serious threat to human health largely due to the fact that e-waste contains metals and persistent organic pollutants, leading to the release of harmful and toxic chemicals into the environment.

It is estimated that 20–50 million tons of e-waste are produced annually worldwide (Developmental Neurotoxicants in E-waste: An Emerging Health Concern. 2011:431). Thus, it is the fastest growing product of town waste. Electronic devices contain a large variety of chemical elements and molecules – a cell phone alone contains roughly forty elements from the periodic table.

The toxicity of these elements can be very high, posing a major risk to pregnant women and the neurodevelopment of their forming foetuses. Infants and developing foetuses are at critical periods of neuronal growth and exposure to the hazardous chemicals abundant in e-waste ...

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