sleung
10-06-2008, 10:47 AM
One of the biggest environmental problems we fail to neglect
Consumers are an ephemeral bunch. They love their television sets, cell phones, computers, MP3 players and any other electronic equipment that enriches their daily lives. Yet they throw them away with such abandon that 50 million tons ends up discarded every year around the world, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
Most of this electronic waste (e-waste) ends up in landfills where its toxic substances leach into the surrounding environment. Some television monitors, for instance, contain up to four pounds of lead, a toxin that can cause brain damage in children. Other toxic metals found in computer processing units, such as lithium, cause health defects as well.
http://www.globe-net.com/other_news/listing.cfm?type=2&newsID=3776
Consumers are an ephemeral bunch. They love their television sets, cell phones, computers, MP3 players and any other electronic equipment that enriches their daily lives. Yet they throw them away with such abandon that 50 million tons ends up discarded every year around the world, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
Most of this electronic waste (e-waste) ends up in landfills where its toxic substances leach into the surrounding environment. Some television monitors, for instance, contain up to four pounds of lead, a toxin that can cause brain damage in children. Other toxic metals found in computer processing units, such as lithium, cause health defects as well.
http://www.globe-net.com/other_news/listing.cfm?type=2&newsID=3776