Do you know what happens when you throw out your old cell phone? Or your old TV? Or electric fan?  Refrigerator, batteries and other electronic gadgets?

         Are you aware of the amount of old electronics are growing rapidly? Those materials are considered as electronic waste or e-waste . Electronic Waste can be described as a discarded electrical or electronic device which cannot be reuse, resale or recycling again. 

          Most of e-waste goes to landfill. Discarded electronics are managed badly. E-Waste contains harmful elements like Beryllium, BFRs- Bromated Flame Retardants, Cadmium, Lead Chromium and Mercury.  When you buried electronic devices metals like mercury, cadmium and lead reacts into the soil and ground water makes them polluted. If you burned it, it will emit harmful gases like cadmium and mercury. Cadmium from batteries can cause severe lung and kidney damage, Beryllium a known carcinogen to human can cause lung damage, BFRs in casing, PVC cables and plastic can cause impaired development of the nervous system and damage to endocrine system. Hexavalent Chromium is high toxic cause cancer. Lead is highly toxic can damage nervous and blood system. Mercury accumulates in the food chain, highly toxic that can damage central nervous system. We should isolate our waste. Electronic products should not be dumped with other waste

By: Julie Ann U. Cruz