1.Electronic waste (e-waste) is not like any kind of waste. It contains hazardous and toxic substances such as lead, mercury and cadmium. When it is incinerated it can produce other toxins such as dioxin, furan, and brominated flame retardants.
2. Some electronic equipment has nearly 36 chemical elements.
Substance Occurrence in e-waste
Halogenated compounds:
- PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) Condensers, Transformers
- TBBA (tetrabromo-bisphenol-A)
- PBB (polybrominated biphenyls)
- PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) Fire retardants for plastics (thermoplastic components, cable insulation)
TBBA is presently the most widely used flame retardant in printed wiring boards and casings.
- Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Cooling unit, Insulation foam
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride) Cable insulation
Heavy metals and other metals:
- Arsenic Small quantities in the form of gallium arsenide within light emitting diodes
- Barium Getters in CRT
- Beryllium Power supply boxes which contain silicon controlled rectifiers and x-ray lenses
- Cadmium Rechargeable NiCd-batteries, fluorescent layer (CRT screens), printer inks and toners, photocopying-machines (printer drums)
- Chromium VI Data tapes, floppy-disks
- Lead CRT screens, batteries, printed wiring boards
- Lithium Li-batteries
- Mercury Fluorescent lamps that provide backlighting in LCDs, in some alkaline batteries and mercury wetted switches
- Nickel Rechargeable NiCd-batteries or NiMH-batteries, electron gun in CRT
- Rare Earth elements (Yttrium, Europium) Fluorescent layer (CRT-screen)
- Selenium Older photocopying-machines (photo drums)
- Zinc sulphide Interior of CRT screens, mixed with rare earth metals
Others:
- Toner Dust Toner cartridges for laser printers / copiers
Radio-active substances
- Americium Medical equipment, fire detectors, active sensing element in smoke detectors
Halogenated compounds:
- PCB (polychlorinated biphenyls) Condensers, Transformers
- TBBA (tetrabromo-bisphenol-A)
- PBB (polybrominated biphenyls)
- PBDE (polybrominated diphenyl ethers) Fire retardants for plastics (thermoplastic components, cable insulation)
TBBA is presently the most widely used flame retardant in printed wiring boards and casings.
- Chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) Cooling unit, Insulation foam
- PVC (polyvinyl chloride) Cable insulation
Heavy metals and other metals:
- Arsenic Small quantities in the form of gallium arsenide within light emitting diodes
- Barium Getters in CRT
- Beryllium Power supply boxes which contain silicon controlled rectifiers and x-ray lenses
- Cadmium Rechargeable NiCd-batteries, fluorescent layer (CRT screens), printer inks and toners, photocopying-machines (printer drums)
- Chromium VI Data tapes, floppy-disks
- Lead CRT screens, batteries, printed wiring boards
- Lithium Li-batteries
- Mercury Fluorescent lamps that provide backlighting in LCDs, in some alkaline batteries and mercury wetted switches
- Nickel Rechargeable NiCd-batteries or NiMH-batteries, electron gun in CRT
- Rare Earth elements (Yttrium, Europium) Fluorescent layer (CRT-screen)
- Selenium Older photocopying-machines (photo drums)
- Zinc sulphide Interior of CRT screens, mixed with rare earth metals
Others:
- Toner Dust Toner cartridges for laser printers / copiers
Radio-active substances
- Americium Medical equipment, fire detectors, active sensing element in smoke detectors