Page 44 - Mechanic Diesel - TT

MECHANIC DIESEL - CITS

“Recycling - from E-Waste to Resources,” the amount of e-waste being produced - including mobile phones and
computers - could rise by as much as 500 percent over the next decade in some countries, such as India. The
United States is the world leader in producing electronic waste, tossing away about 3 million tons each year.
China already produces about 2.3 million tons (2010 estimate) domestically, second only to the United States.
And, despite having banned e-waste imports. China remains a major e-waste dumping ground for developed
countries.
Since the invention of the iPhone, cell phones have become the top source of e-waste products because they
are not made to last more than two years. Electrical waste contains hazardous but also valuable and scarce
materials. Up to 60 elements can be found in complex electronics.
While there is agreement that the number of discarded electronic devices is increasing, there is considerable
disagreement about the relative risk (compared to automobile scrap, for example), and strong disagreement
whether curtailing trade in used electronics will improve conditions, or make them worse.

Benefits of recycling: Recycling raw materials from end of-life electronics is the most effective solution to the
growing e-waste problem. Most electronic devices contain a variety of materials, including metals that can be
recovered for future uses. By dismantling and providing reuse possibilities, intact natural resources are conserved
and air and water pollution caused by hazardous disposal is avoided. Additionally, recycling reduces the amount
of greenhouse gas emissions caused by the manufacturing of new products. Another benefit of recycling e-waste
is that many of the materials can be recycled and re-used again. Materials that can be recycled include “ferrous
(iron-based) and non-ferrous metals, glass, and various types of plastic.” “Non-ferrous metals, mainly aluminum
and copper can all be re-smelted and re-manufactured. Ferrous metals such as steel and iron also can be re-
used. Due to the recent surge in popularity in 3D printing, certain 3D printers have been designed (FDM variety) to
produce waste that can be easily recycled which decreases the amount of harmful pollutants in the atmosphere.
The excess plastic from these printers that comes out as a by-product can also be reused to create new 3D
printed creations.
Health hazards of e-waste: Children are especially sensitive to e-waste exposure because of several reasons,
such as their smaller size, higher metabolism rate, larger surface area in relation to their weight, and multiple
exposure pathways (for example, dermal, hand-to-mouth, and take-home exposure). Studies have found
significant higher blood lead levels (BLL) and blood cadmium levels (BCL) of children living in e-waste recycling
area compared to those living in control area. For example, one study found that the average BLL in Guiyu
was nearly 1.5 times compared to that in the control site (15.3 ug/dL compared to 9.9 ug/dL), while the CDC
of the United States has set a reference level for blood lead at 5 ug/dL. The highest concentrations of lead
were found in the children of parents whose workshop dealt with circuit boards and the lowest was among
those who recycled plastics. Exposure to e-waste can cause serious health problems to children. Children’s
exposure to developmental neurotoxins containing in e-waste such as lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium and
PBDEs can lead to a higher risk of lower IQ, impaired cognitive function, and other adverse effects. In certain
age groups, a decreased lung function of children in e-waste recycling sites has been found. Some studies also
found associations between children’s e-waste exposure and impaired coagulation, hearing loss, and decreased
vaccine antibody tilters in e-waste recycling area.
E-waste recycling workers
The complex composition and improper handling of e-waste adversely affect human health. A growing body of
epidemiological and clinical evidence has led to increased concern about the potential threat of e-waste to human
health, especially in developing countries such as India and China. For instance, in terms of health hazards,
open burning of printed wiring boards increases the concentration of dioxins in the surrounding areas. These
toxins cause an increased risk of cancer if inhaled by workers and local residents. Toxic metals and poison can
also enter the bloodstream during the manual extraction and collection of tiny quantities of precious metals, and
workers are continuously exposed to poisonous chemicals and fumes of highly concentrated acids. Recovering
resalable copper by burning insulated wires causes neurological disorders, and acute exposure to cadmium,
found in semiconductors and chip resistors, can damage the kidneys and liver and cause bone loss. Long-term
exposure to lead on printed circuit boards and computer and television screens can damage the central and
peripheral nervous system and kidneys, and children are more susceptible to these harmful effects.
Storage and occupational hazards
Noise Pollution
The word noise is derived from a Latin word ‘Nausea’ which means sickness in which one feels the need to vomit.
Noise is the unpleasant and undesirable sound which leads to discomfort in human beings. The intensity of sound

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CITS : Automotive - Mechanic Diesel - Lesson 01 - 04