subject: What's In My Mobile Phone? [print this page] Every mobile handset has a rechargable battery, a Lcd screen made from mercury, transmitters made from beryllium, a vibrator produced from coltan, diodes made up of antimony, motherboard solder made out of lead, arsenic-based semiconductors, bromides to help keep the phone from catching fire, as well as a outer shell made from PVC. Many of these chemical compounds, if broken down and absorbed, are extremely harmful. Known as persistent bioaccumulative toxins (PBTs), the united states Environmental protection agency states that PBTs tend to be linked with a selection of damaging human health consequences, including harm to the nervous system, reproductive system as well as developmental difficulties, malignancy and genetic impacts.
Now, the majority of us dont plan on trying to actually eat our mobile devices, however, picture this: five-hundred million cell phones decomposing in a landfill, sloughing particles of nickel, cadmium, mercury, lead, and all the rest in to the ground. Most of these heavy metals seep downwards through the planet until they reach the groundwater system, when they feed in to our waters, streams, canals and drinking reservoirs. We employ that water to fish, to nurture our crops, and also to nourish our bodies. Fresh water is the priimary source of all life for this planet, and we are toxifying it by throwing mobile phones en masse carelessly in the garbage.
Moreover, entire village economies in the Third World survive on junked phones being melted down by the thousands for trace precious metals. The heat causes these toxic chemicals to get in the air and also into the lungs of people who work with the phones.As you'd expect, life expectancy in these villages is not long.
Thats Horrible! How Was It Allowed to Take place?
Modern life is so dast pacedt, this is the main reason why we do not have time to think about where things we take for granted come from or are disposed of to. Each and every day we are surrounded by hazardous chemical substances packaged inin plastic, which itself is harmful if dissolved or broken down. Why would we question something so practical?
We should continue to use our mobile phones, however, we have to educate ourselves about handset disposal.
What Should We Do?
It'sIt is vital and imperative we recycle our mobile handsets when we upgrade or when they breakl. It is such a simple action, it will take, at worst, ten minutes longer than throwing it in the bin. Recycling takes many forms, giving the handset to a friend, selling it, or putting it on ebay are three examples.
