Health and environmental impacts of communications and information equipment and safety guidelines

1
Health and environmental impacts of
communications and information equipment and
safety guidelines

• Dr. Mohamed El-Zarka

2
Historical review

• Along the history, philosophers and scientists
  have explored and developed several natural
  phenomena that facilitated the life of the
  humankind.
• The philosopher Thales of Milteus (640-546 B.C)
  is thought to have been the first person who
  observed the electrical properties of amber and
  explored the magnetic properties of lodestone.
• People have always watched but few have analyzed
  that great display of power present in the
  electrical discharge in the sky called lightning.
• The twitch of the leg of a dead frog when
  dissected with a moisted metal scapel that has
  been noticed by Galvani in 1786, had led Volta to
  invent the electric battery .

3

• Ampere defined the electric current in 1820.
• In 1843, Morse transmitted telegraph signals
  from Baltimore to Washington DC.
• In 1875, Graham Bell invented the telephone.
• In 1899 Marconi transmitted radio signals from
  South Foreland to Wimereux, England.
• Armstrong demonstrated FM radio transmission in
  1933.
• Electronic digital Computer has been
  demonstrated in 1946.
• First Voice Transmission from a satellite was in
  1958. In 1987, Superconductivity demonstrated at
  95 K.

4
Advantages of ICT

• The Recent growth of ICT has been astounding. Now
  we are able to communicate at lightening speed,
  by using computers, facsimiles and mobile phones.
• The globalization of the worlds economies
  greatly enhances the value of information.

5
Advantages of ICT (continued..)

• The relatively recent explosion of electronic
  commerce has further increased the pace of
  business transactions.
• The major industrial economies have been
  transformed into information based service
  economics in which knowledge and information
  become the key ingredients in creating wealth.

6
Advantages of ICT (continued..)

• Advanced communications and telecommunications
  infrastructure reduced transportation needs, led
  to reduction of fuel consumption and consequently
  reduction of air pollution from carbon monoxide,
  carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and
  other pollutants.

7
Advantages of ICT (continued..)

• Information technologies, computer aided design ,
  and computer controlled manufacturing are used to
  increase the efficiency of power plants and
  industrial processes that decreases pollution,
  waste and resource consumption and make products
  that are more readily recycled.

8
Advantages of ICT (continued..)

• ICT became a crucial tool in all aspects of our
  life , in education , business , industry,
  medical diagnosis and treatment, transportation ,
  defense and in protecting man and environment.
• A countrys ability to manage and use ICT will be
  the single determinant of its rate of development.

9
The Impacts of ICT

• As usual every development has a price, and
  the price of the progress in the amazing, fast,
  ever-evolving communications and Information
  Technologies might be negative Impacts on health
  and Environment , that result from
• The electromagnetic radiation associated with
  equipment use
• Equipment waste disposal

10
Electromagnetic Radiation

• Electromagnetic radiation consists of waves of
  electric and magnetic energy moving together
  through space.
• All electromagnetic radiation can be classified
  by frequency from the extremely low to extremely
  high frequencies.

11

• Extremely high frequency radiation such as
  Ultraviolet (UV) and X-rays is called Ionizing
  Radiation because it is powerful enough to
  effect changes in the atoms of matter it strikes,
  by breaking chemical bonds (ionization) , thus
  altering their chemical and biological nature .
• Electromagnetic radiation at those frequencies
  below the UV band are generally classified as
  Non-Ionizing Radiation because they typically
  lack the energy to effect changes in atomic
  structure.

12
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
13

• Mobile phones operate at a variety of frequencies
  between about 800 and 2200 MHz.
• Mobile Phones base station antennas emit EMR in
  the range 1800 2000 MHz
• Computer monitors emit a broad range of EMR from
  30 Hz up to 300 GHz.

14
The biological effects of RF

• The biological effects of RF radiation depend on
  the rate at which power is absorbed.
• This rate of energy absorption is called the
  Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) and is measured in
  watts/kilogram (W/kg). SARs are difficult to
  measure on a routine basis, so what is usually
  measured is the plane wave power density.

15

• Average whole body SARs can then be calculated
  from the power density exposure In this document
  power density is given in mW/cm-sq (milliwatts
  per square centimeter). Power density can be
  expressed in several other ways
• W/m-sq (watts per square meter), where 10 W/m-sq
  1 mW/cm-sqµW/cm-sq (microwatts per square
  centimeter), where 1000 µW/cm-sq 1
  mW/cm-sqnW/cm-sq (nanowatts per square
  centimeter), where 1000 nW/cm-sq 1 µW/cm-sq

16

• The power density guidelines are stricter for
  some frequencies than for others because humans
  absorb RF radiation more at 860 MHz than at 1800
  MHz, and it is the amount of power absorbed that
  really matters
• Specifically, the ICNIRP standard is 0.40
  mW/cm-sq at 800 MHz and 0.90 mW/cm-sq at 2000
  MHz, while the NCRP guidelines are 0.57 mW/cm-sq
  and 1.00 mW/cm-sq for these same frequencies.

17

• Electromagnetic waves may produce biological
  effects which may sometimes, but not always, lead
  to adverse health effects. It is important to
  understand the difference between the two
• A biological effect occurs when exposure to
  electromagnetic waves causes some noticeable or
  detectable physiological change in a biological
  system.
• An adverse health effect occurs when the
  biological effect is outside the normal range for
  the body to compensate, and thus leads to some
  detrimental health condition.

18

• Fields at frequencies above about 1 MHz primarily
  cause heating by moving ions and water molecules
  through the medium in which they exist. Even very
  low levels of  energy produce a small amount of
  heat, but this heat is carried away by the body's
  normal thermoregulatory processes without the
  person noticing it.
• A number of studies at these frequencies suggest
  that exposure to fields too weak to cause heating
  may have adverse health consequences, including
  cancer and memory loss.

19

• Thermal effects
• The deposition of RF energy in the human body
  tends to increase the body temperature.
• During exercise, the metabolic heat production
  can reach levels of 3-5 W/kg. In normal thermal
  environments, an SAR of 1-4 W/kg for 30
  minutes produces average body temperature
  increases of less than 1C for healthy adults.

20

• Thus, an occupational RF guideline of 0.4 W/kg
  SAR leaves a margin of protection against
  complications due to thermally unfavourable
  environmental conditions.
• For the general population, which includes
  sensitive subpopulations, such as infants and
  the elderly, an SAR of 0.08 W/kg would provide an
  adequate further margin of safety against
  adverse thermal effects from RF fields.

21
What levels of RF energy are considered safe?

• Various organizations and countries have
  developed standards for exposure to
  radiofrequency energy. These standards recommend
  safe levels of exposure for both the general
  public and for workers.

22

• The National Council on Radiation Protection and
  Measurements (NCRP)
• The Institute of Electrical and Electronics
  Engineers (IEEE).
• The International Commission on Non-Ionizing
  Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

23

• American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
• National Council on Radiation Protection and
  Measurements (NCRP)
• U.S Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• The World Health Organization is working to
  provide a framework for international
  harmonization of RF safety standards

24
Exposure standards

• The NCRP, IEEE, and ICNIRP all have identified a
  whole-body Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value
  of 4 watts per kilogram (4 W/kg) as a threshold
  level of exposure at which harmful biological
  effects may occur.

25
Exposure standards (continued..)

• In addition, the NCRP, IEEE, and ICNIRP
  guidelines vary depending on the frequency of the
  RF exposure.
• This is due to the finding that whole-body
  human absorption of RF energy varies with the
  frequency of the RF signal.

26
Exposure standards (continued..)

• The most restrictive limits on whole-body
  exposure are in the frequency range of 30-300 MHz
  where the human body absorbs RF energy most
  efficiently. For products that only expose part
  of the body, such as wireless phones, exposure
  limits in terms of SAR only are specified.

27
Exposure standards (continued..)

• The exposure limits used by the FCC are expressed
  in terms of SAR, electric and magnetic field
  strength, and power density for transmitters
  operating at frequencies from 300 kHz to 100 GHz.

28
Exposure standards (continued..)

• 4 W/kg for 30 minutes would result in a body
  temperature rise of less than 1C. This body
  temperature rise is considered acceptable.
  
• A safety factor of 10 is introduced, in order to
  allow for unfavourable, thermal, environmental,
  and possible long-term effects, and other
  variables, thus arriving at a basic limit of 0.4
  W/kg.

29
Implementation of standards

• Allocation of responsibility for measurements
  of field intensity and interpretation of results
• Establishment of detailed field protection safety
  codes and guides for safe use

30
What siting criteria are required to ensure that
a mobile phone base station antenna will meet
safety guidelines?

• Antenna sites should be designed so that the
  public cannot access areas that exceed the 1992
  ANSI or FCC guidelines for public exposure.
• As a general rule, the uncontrolled (public)
  exposure guideline cannot be exceeded more than 8
  meters (25 feet) from the radiating surface of
  the antenna.

31
What siting criteria are required to ensure that
a mobile phone base station antenna will meet
safety guidelines? (continued)

• If there are areas that exceed the 1992 ANSI or
  FCC guidelines for controlled (occupational)
  exposure, make sure that workers know where these
  areas are, and that they can (and do) power-down
  (or shut down) the transmitters when entering
  these areas.
• Such areas will be limited to areas within 3
  meters (10 feet) of the antennas

32
What siting criteria are required to ensure that
a mobile phone base station antenna will meet
safety guidelines? (continued)

• In general, the above guidelines will usually
  be met when antennas are placed on their own
  towers. Problems, when they exist, are generally
  confined to
• Antennas placed on the roofs of buildings
  particularly where multiple base station antennas
  for different carriers are mounted on the same
  building

33
What siting criteria are required to ensure that
a mobile phone base station antenna will meet
safety guidelines? (continued)

• Antennas placed on structures that require access
  by workers (both for regular maintenance, and for
  uncommon events such as painting or roofing).
  Note that the occupation safety standards for RF
  radiation apply only to workers with appropriate
  RF radiation safety training.
• Towers that are placed very close to, and lower
  than, nearby buildings.

34
Specific Antenna Installation Guidelines

• For roof-mounted antennas, elevate the
  transmitting antennas above the height of people
  who may have to be on the roof.
• For roof-mounted antennas, keep the transmitting
  antennas away from the areas where people are
  most likely to be (e.g., roof access points,
  telephone service points, HVAC equipment).

35
Specific Antenna Installation Guidelines(continue
d)

• For roof-mounted directional antennas, place the
  antennas near the periphery and point them away
  from the building.
• Consider the trade off between large aperture
  antennas (lower maximum RF) and small aperture
  antennas (lower visual impact).

36
Specific Antenna Installation Guidelines(continue
d)

• Remember that RF standards are stricter for
  lower-frequency antennas (e.g., 900 MHz) than for
  higher-frequency antennas (e.g., 1800 MHz).
• Take special precautions to keep higher-power
  antennas away from accessible areas.

37
Specific Antenna Installation Guidelines(continue
d)

• Keep antennas at a site as far apart as possible
  although this may run contrary to local zoning
  requirements.
• Take special precautions when designing
  "co-location" sites, where multiple antennas
  owned by different companies are on the same
  structure. This applies particularly to sites
  that include high-power broadcast (FM/TV)
  antennas. Local zoning often favors co-location,
  but co-location can provide "challenging" RF
  safety problems.

38
Work Practices for Reducing RF Radiation Exposure

• Individuals working at antenna sites should be
  informed about the presence of RF radiation, the
  potential for exposure and the steps they can
  take to reduce their exposure.
• If radiofrequency radiation at a site can exceed
  the FCC standard for general public/uncontrolled
  exposures, then the site should be posted with
  appropriate signs

39
Work Practices for Reducing RF Radiation Exposure
(continued..)

• RF radiation levels at a site should be modeled
  before the site is built.
• RF radiation levels at a site should be measured.
  
• Assume that all antennas are active at all times.
  

40
Work Practices for Reducing RF Radiation Exposure
(continued..)

• Use personal monitors to ensure that all
  transmitters have actually been shut down.
• "Keep on moving" and "avoid unnecessary and
  prolonged exposure in close proximity to
  antennas".

41
Work Practices for Reducing RF Radiation Exposure
(continued..)

• At some site (e.g., multiple antennas in a
  restricted space where some antennas cannot be
  shut down) it may be necessary to use protective
  clothing.
• Remember that there are many non-RF hazards at
  most sites (e.g., dangerous machinery, electric
  shock hazard, falling hazard), so allow only
  authorized, trained personnel at a site.

42
How do you assess compliance with RF radiation
guidelines for mobile phone base stations?

• Compliance can be assessed through measurements
  or calculations. Both methods require a solid
  understanding of the physics of RF radiation.
• Measurements require access to sophisticated and
  expensive equipment. Calculations require
  detailed knowledge about the power, antenna
  pattern and geometry of a specific antenna.

43

• Nothing as simple as distance from an antenna
  site is adequate for assessing compliance or
  estimating exposure levels

44
Does RF radiation from mobile phones or mobile
phone base stations cause physiological or
behavioral changes?

• There are un-replicated reports of such effects.
  There are some studies that suggest that RF
  radiation from hand-held mobile phones or mobile
  phone base stations might cause subtle
  biochemical, physiological or behavioral changes.
  
• However, none of the studies provides substantial
  evidence that mobile phone base stations might
  pose a health hazard.

45

• Learning Concentration and Behavioral disorders
  (e.g attention deficit disorder. ADD)
• Extreme fluctuations in blood pressure
• Heart rhythm disorders
• Heart attacks and strokes among an increasingly
  younger population
• Brain degenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's)
• Cancerous afflictions leukemia, brain tumors

46

• Headaches, migrains
• Chronic exhaustion
• Inner agitation
• Sleeplessness, daytime sleepiness
• Nervous and connective tissue pains, for which
  the usual causes do not explain

47
Other Computer Related Health Impacts

• As more and more work, education and recreation
  involves computers, everyone needs to be aware of
  the hazard of Repetitive Strain Injury to the
  hands and arms resulting from the use of computer
  keyboards and mice.

48
What is RSI?

• Repetitive Strain Injuries occur from repeated
  physical movements doing damage to tendons,
  nerves, muscles, and other soft body tissues.

49
What are the Symptoms?

• Tightness, discomfort, stiffness, soreness or
  burning in the hands, wrists, fingers, forearms,
  or elbows
• Tingling, coldness, or numbness in the hands
• Clumsiness or loss of strength and coordination
  in the hands
• Pain that wakes you up at night
• Feeling a need to massage your hands, wrists, and
  arms
• Pain in the upper back, shoulders, or neck
  associated with using the computer.

50
How to Prevent It?

• Correct typing technique and posture, the right
  equipment setup, and good work habits are much
  more important for prevention than ergonomic
  gadgets like split keyboards or palm rests.

Figure shows proper posture at the computer.
51

• TAKE LOTS OF BREAKS TO STRETCH and RELAX

Here are some stretches you can do,
52

• Hold the mouse lightly
• Keep your arms hands warm
• Eliminate unnecessary computer usage
• Consider voice recognition.
• DON'T TUCK THE TELEPHONE BETWEEN YOUR SHOULDER
  AND EAR
• TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES

53
Health and environmental impacts of disposing
equipments waste

• In general, computer equipment is a
  complicated assembly of more than 1,000
  materials, many of which are highly toxic

54

• According to some estimates there is hardly any
  other product for which the sum of the
  environmental impacts of raw material,
  extraction, industrial, refining and production,
  use and disposal is so extensive as for printed
  circuit boards.
• In short, the product developers of electronic
  products are introducing chemicals on a scale
  which is totally incompatible with the scant
  knowledge of their environmental or biological
  characteristics.

55

• The health impacts of the mixtures and material
  combinations in the products often are not known.
  
• The production of semiconductors, printed circuit
  boards, disk drives and monitors uses
  particularly hazardous chemicals, and workers
  involved in chip manufacturing are now beginning
  to come forward and reporting cancer clusters.
• In addition, new evidence is emerging that
  computer recyclers have high levels of dangerous
  chemicals in their blood.

56
Materials used in a desktop computer and the
efficiency of current recycling processes
Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer Based on a typical desktop computer, weighing 60 lbs. Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer Based on a typical desktop computer, weighing 60 lbs. Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer Based on a typical desktop computer, weighing 60 lbs. Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer Based on a typical desktop computer, weighing 60 lbs. Composition of a Desktop Personal Computer Based on a typical desktop computer, weighing 60 lbs.
Table presented in Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). 1996. Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap. Austin, TX  MCC. Table presented in Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). 1996. Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap. Austin, TX  MCC. Table presented in Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). 1996. Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap. Austin, TX  MCC. Table presented in Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). 1996. Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap. Austin, TX  MCC. Table presented in Microelectronics and Computer Technology Corporation (MCC). 1996. Electronics Industry Environmental Roadmap. Austin, TX  MCC.
Name Content  ( of total weight) Weight of material in computer (lbs.) Recycling Efficiency (current recyclability) Use/Location
Plastics 22.9907 13.8 20 includes organics, oxides other than silica
Lead 6.2988 3.8 5 metal joining, radiation shield/CRT, PWB
Aluminum 14.1723 8.5 80 structural, conductivity/housing, CRT, PWB, connectors
Germanium 0.0016 lt 0.1 0 Semiconductor/PWB
Gallium 0.0013 lt 0.1 0 Semiconductor/PWB
Iron 20.4712 12.3 80 structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
57
Tin 1.0078 0.6 70 metal joining/PWB, CRT
Copper 6.9287 4.2 90 Conductivity/CRT, PWB, connectors
Barium 0.0315 lt 0.1 0 in vacuum tube/CRT
Nickel 0.8503 0.51 80 structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
Zinc 2.2046 1.32 60 battery, phosphor emitter/PWB, CRT
Tantalum 0.0157 lt 0.1 0 Capacitors/PWB, power supply
Indium 0.0016 lt 0.1 60 transistor, rectifiers/PWB
58
Vanadium 0.0002 lt 0.1 0 red phosphor emitter/CRT
Terbium 0 0 0 green phosphor activator, dopant/CRT, PWB
Beryllium 0.0157 lt 0.1 0 thermal conductivity/PWB, connectors
Gold  0.0016 lt 0.1 99 Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors
Europium 0.0002 lt 0.1 0 phosphor activator/PWB
Titanium 0.0157 lt 0.1 0 pigment, alloying agent/(aluminum) housing
Ruthenium 0.0016 lt 0.1 80 resistive circuit/PWB
59
Cobalt 0.0157 lt 0.1 85 structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
Palladium 0.0003 lt 0.1 95 Connectivity, conductivity/PWB, connectors
Manganese 0.0315 lt 0.1 0 structural, magnetivity/(steel) housing, CRT, PWB
Silver 0.0189 lt 0.1 98 Conductivity/PWB, connectors
Antinomy 0.0094 lt 0.1 0 diodes/housing, PWB, CRT
Bismuth 0.0063 lt 0.1 0 wetting agent in thick film/PWB
Chromium 0.0063 lt 0.1 0 Decorative, hardener/(steel) housing
60
Cadmium 0.0094 lt 0.1 0 battery, glu-green phosphor emitter/housing, PWB, CRT
Selenium 0.0016 0.00096 70 rectifiers/PWB
Niobium 0.0002 lt 0.1 0 welding allow/housing
Yttrium 0.0002 lt 0.1 0 red phosphor emitter/CRT
Rhodium 0   50 thick film conductor/PWB
Platinum 0   95 thick film conductor/PWB
Mercury 0.0022 lt 0.1 0 batteries, switches/housing, PWB
Arsenic 0.0013 lt 0.1 0 doping agents in transistors/PWB
Silica 24.8803 15 0 glass, solid state devices/CRT,PWB
Note plastics contain polybrominated flame
retardants, and hundreds of additives and
stabilizers not listed separately.
61
Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers

• Lead
• Lead can cause damage to the central and
  peripheral nervous systems, blood system and
  kidneys in humans.
• Effects on the endocrine system have also been
  observed and its serious negative effects on
  childrens brain development have been well
  documented.
• Lead accumulates in the environment and has high
  acute and chronic toxic effects on plants,
  animals and microorganisms

62

• Cadmium
• Cadmium compounds are classified as toxic with a
  possible risk of irreversible effects on human
  health.
• Cadmium and cadmium compounds accumulate in the
  human body, in particular in kidneys.
• Cadmium is adsorbed through respiration but is
  also taken up with food.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
63
Cadmium (continued..)

• Due to the long half-life (30 years), cadmium can
  easily be accumulated in amounts that cause
  symptoms of poisoning.
• Cadmium shows a danger of cumulative effects in
  the environment due to its acute and chronic
  toxicity

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
64
Cadmium (continued..)

• In electrical and electronic equipment, cadmium
  occurs in certain components such as SMD chip
  resistors, infrared detectors and semiconductors.
  Older types of cathode ray tubes contain cadmium.
  Furthermore, cadmium is used as a plastic
  stabilizer.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
65

• Mercury
• When inorganic mercury spreads out in the water,
  it is transformed to methylated mercury in the
  bottom sediments.
• Methylated mercury easily accumulates in living
  organisms and concentrates through the food chain
  particularly via fish. Methylated mercury causes
  chronic damage to the brain.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
66
Mercury (continued..)

• It is estimated that 22 of the yearly world
  consumption of mercury is used in electrical and
  electronic equipment.
• It is basically used in thermostats, (position)
  sensors, relays and switches (e.g. on printed
  circuit boards and in measuring equipment) and
  discharge lamps.
• Furthermore, it is used in medical equipment,
  data transmission, telecommunications, and mobile
  phones

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
67

• Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium VI)
• Chromium VI can easily pass through membranes of
  cells and is easily absorbed producing various
  toxic effects within the cells.
• It causes strong allergic reactions even in small
  concentrations.
• Asthmatic bronchitis is another allergic
  reaction linked to chromium VI. Chromium VI may
  also cause DNA damage.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
68
Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium VI) (continued..)

• In addition, hexavalent chromium compounds are
  toxic for the environment. It is well documented
  that contaminated wastes can leach from
  landfills.
• Incineration results in the generation of fly ash
  from which chromium is leach able, and there is
  widespread agreement among scientists that wastes
  containing chromium should not be incinerated.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
69

• PVC
• The use of PVC in computers has been mainly used
  in cabling and computer housings, although most
  computer moldings are now being made of ABS
  plastic.
• PVC cabling is used for its fire retardant
  properties, but there are concerns that once
  alight, fumes from PVC cabling can be a major
  contributor to fatalities and hence there are
  pressures to switch to alternatives for safety
  reasons. Such alternatives are low-density
  polyethylene and thermoplastic olefins.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
70

• Brominated Flame Retardants
• Brominated flame-retardants are a class of
  brominated chemicals commonly used in electronic
  products as a means for reducing flammability.
• In computers, they are used mainly in four
  applications in printed circuit boards, in
  components such as connectors, in plastic covers
  and in cables.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
71
Brominated Flame Retardants (continued..)

• Various scientific observations indicate that
  Polybrominated Diphenylethers (PBDE) might act as
  endocrine disrupters..
• Research has revealed that levels of PBDEs in
  human breast milk are doubling every five years
  and this has prompted concern because of the
  effect of these chemicals in young animals.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
72
Brominated Flame Retardants (continued..)

• Other studies have shown PBDE, like many
  halogenated organics, reduce levels of the
  hormone thyroxin in exposed animals and have been
  shown to cross the blood brain barrier in the
  developing fetus.
• Thyroid is an essential hormone needed to
  regulate the normal development of all animal
  species, including humans.

Risks related to some e-toxics found in computers
73
The Hazards of Incinerating Computer Junk

• The stream of Waste from Electronic and
  Electrical Equipment (WEEE) contributes
  significantly to the heavy metals and halogenated
  substances contained in the municipal waste
  stream.

74
The Hazards of Incinerating Computer Junk
(continued..)

• Because of the variety of different substances
  found together in electroscrap, incineration is
  particularly dangerous.
• For instance, copper is a catalyst for dioxin
  formation when flame-retardants are incinerated.
• This is of particular concern as the incineration
  of brominated flame retardants at a low
  temperature (600-800C) may lead to the
  generation of extremely toxic polybrominated
  dioxins (PBDDs) and furans (PBDFs)

75
The Hazards of Landfilling Computer Junk

• It has become common knowledge that all landfills
  leak. Even the best "state of the art" landfills
  are not completely tight throughout their
  lifetimes and a certain amount of chemical and
  metal leaching will occur.
• The situation is far worse for older or less
  stringent dump sites.

76
The Hazards of Landfilling Computer Junk
(continued..)

• Mercury will leach when certain electronic
  devices, such as circuit breakers are destroyed.
• Not only the leaching of mercury poses specific
  problems. The vaporization of metallic mercury
  and dimethylene mercury, both part of WEEE, is
  also of concern.

77
The Hazards of Landfilling Computer Junk
(continued..)

• The same is true for PCBs from condensors. When
  brominated flame retarded plastic or cadmium
  containing plastics are landfilled, both PBDE and
  the cadmium may leach into the soil and
  groundwater.
• It has been found that significant amounts of
  lead ions are dissolved from broken lead
  containing glass, such as the cone glass of
  cathode ray tubes, when mixed with acid waters
  which commonly occur in landfills.
•  

78
The Hazards of Landfilling Computer Junk
(continued..)

• In addition, uncontrolled fires may arise at the
  landfills and this could be a frequent occurrence
  in many countries.
• When exposed to fire, metals and other chemical
  substances, such as the extremely toxic dioxins
  and furans (TCDD -Tetrachloro-dibenzo-dioxin,
  PCDDs, PBDDs and PCDFs - polychlorinated and
  polybrominated dioxins and furans) from
  halogenated flame retardant products and PCB
  containing condensers can be emitted.

79
The Hazards of Recycling Computer Junk

• Recycling of hazardous products has little
  environmental benefit it simply moves the
  hazards into secondary products that eventually
  have to be disposed of. Unless the goal is to
  redesign the product to use non-hazardous
  materials, such recycling is a false solution.

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A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION EXTENDED PRODUCER
RESPONSIBILITY AND E-TOXICS PHASE-OUTS

• The European Union is developing a solution that
  will make producers responsible for taking back
  their old products. This legislation which
  includes "take-back" requirements and toxic
  materials phase-outs -- also encourages cleaner
  product design and less waste generation.
• This is known as Extended Producer
  Responsibility.

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• The aim of EPR is to encourage producers to
  prevent pollution and reduce resource and energy
  use in each stage of the product life cycle
  through changes in product design and process
  technology.

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• This includes upstream impacts arising from the
  choice of materials and from the manufacturing
  process as well as the downstream impacts, i.e.
  from the use and disposal of products. However,
  product take-back needs to go hand-in-hand with
  mandatory legislation to phase-out e-toxics.

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What the European Union has proposed as a
solution for E-scrap

• The draft WEEE Directive will phase-out the use
  of mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and two
  classes of brominated flame-retardants in
  electronic and electrical goods
• It puts full financial responsibility on
  producers to set up collection, recycling and
  disposal systems.
• Between 70 to 90 by weight of all collected
  equipment must be recycled or re-used. In the
  case of computers and monitors, 70 recycling
  must be met.

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• "Recycling" does not include incineration, so
  companies wont be able to meet recycling goals
  by burning the waste.
• For disposal, incineration with energy recovery
  is allowed for the 10 to 30 of waste remaining.
  However, components containing the following
  substances must be removed from any end of life
  equipment which is destined for landfill,
  incineration or recovery
• lead, mercury, hexavalent chromium, cadmium,
  PCBs, halogenated flame-retardants, radioactive
  substances, asbestos and beryllium.

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WHAT IS A CLEAN COMPUTER?

• Electronic products should actually be considered
  chemical waste products.
• Their number is increasing and their life is
  decreasing.
• Electronic waste piles are growing, as is their
  pollution potential.
• Most of these problems have their source in the
  development and design of the products concerned."

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• Many companies have shown they can design cleaner
  products. Industry is making some progress to
  design cleaner products but we need to move
  beyond pilot projects and ensure all products are
  upgradeable and non-toxic

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Sustainable product design asks that we consider

• 1. Rethink the product design
• 2. Use renewable materials and energy
• 3. Use non-renewable materials that are safer