1 What is e-waste?
E-waste refers to electrical or electronic products that have reached the end of their life cycle, such as damaged or obsolete devices. These types of waste can be recycled and include items such as DVD players, printers, and televisions.
Within this category of waste, there are many toxic substances that are harmful to human health, such as cadmium in resistors, lead, and mercury.
2 The dangers of e-waste when not disposed of properly
E-waste contains a significant amount of extremely toxic materials, and this amount is increasing, especially in developed and developing countries, posing a threat to the environment and human health.
Dangerous for people in direct contact with e-waste
Although electronic waste, such as phones and refrigerators, may appear harmless on the surface, the substances they contain are actually toxic. These types of waste often consist of heavy metals and chemical compounds that can easily penetrate soil and water.
In Vietnam, bottle shops often collect this type of waste and disassemble the internal parts themselves for resale. This unintentionally causes toxic substances to adhere to the soil and gradually accumulate, seeping into groundwater.
Furthermore, individuals in direct contact with these substances can have heavy metals adhere to their skin, even after washing with soap. This can lead to respiratory diseases, cancer, cognitive decline, and more.
Environmental pollution
Currently, many e-waste treatment plants operate in a rudimentary manner and are not operated safely.
Burning e-waste indiscriminately releases harmful gases into the air, contributing to air pollution. This includes dioxin waste, which can cause birth defects and other health issues.
E-waste such as televisions, cameras, and computer screens often contain cathode ray tubes that contain substances like lead and barium. These substances can easily seep into the soil and groundwater at recycling sites, posing a risk to human health when using water for cooking and bathing.
3 How to protect health and the environment from e-waste?
Bring waste to specialized industrial waste collection facilities
Due to the dangerous nature of electronic waste, it should not be recycled, burned, or disposed of indiscriminately. E-waste must be properly segregated and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
There are currently companies and factories specializing in the treatment of e-waste. If you have e-waste at home, you can contact the following locations for purchasing, thereby contributing to environmental and health protection:
- Asia Environment Company, 404 Tan Son Nhi, Tan Quy Ward, Tan Phu District, HCMC
- Thai An Environmental Construction Company Limited, 279 Vuon Lai, An Phu Dong Ward, District 12, HCMC
Use a water purifier to remove heavy metals from water
Currently, not many families rely on groundwater as a water source. However, if e-waste continues to be improperly disposed of, not only groundwater but also seawater and river water can become contaminated with heavy metals.
Tap water alone cannot completely remove the heavy metals it may contain. To protect the health of yourself and your family, consider using a water purifier to filter out these heavy metals, ensuring a source of clean and safe drinking water.
A water purifier not only removes heavy metals and produces pure water, but also adds beneficial minerals to your body. These include alkaline water to neutralize acidity in the water and antioxidant hydrogen.
Above is an article about what e-waste is and the harm it can cause when not properly handled. Please feel free to provide any suggestions or comments below the article!
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