| Source of E-wastes |
Constituent |
Health Effects |
| Solder in printed circuit boards, glass panels and gaskets in computer monitors |
Lead (PB) |
| • |
Damage to central and peripheral nervous systems, blood systems and kidney damage. |
| • |
Affects brain development of children. |
|
| Chip resistors and semiconductors |
Cadmium (CD) |
| • |
Toxic irreversible effects on human health. |
| • |
Accumulates in kidney and liver. |
| • |
Causes neural damage. |
| • |
Teratogenic. |
|
| Relays and switches, printed circuit boards |
Mercury (Hg) |
| • |
Chronic damage to the brain. |
| • |
Respiratory and skin disorders due to bioaccumulation in fishes. |
|
| Corrosion protection of untreated and galvanized steel plates, decorator or hardner for steel housings |
Hexavalent chromium (Cr) VI |
| • |
Asthmatic bronchitis. |
| • |
DNA damage. |
|
| Cabling and computer housing |
Plastics including PVC |
| Burning produces dioxin. It causes |
| • |
Reproductive and developmental problems; |
| • |
Immune system damage; |
| • |
Interfere with regulatory hormones |
|
| Plastic housing of electronic equipments and circuit boards. |
Brominated flame retardants (BFR) |
| • |
Disrupts endocrine system functions |
|
| Front panel of CRTs |
Barium (Ba) |
| Short term exposure causes: |
| • |
Muscle weakness; |
| • |
Damage to heart, liver and spleen. |
|
| Motherboard |
Beryllium (Be) |
| • |
Carcinogenic (lung cancer) |
| • |
Inhalation of fumes and dust. Causes chronic beryllium disease or beryllicosis. |
| • |
Skin diseases such as warts |
|