Electronic devices contain toxic materials known as hazardous electronic waste (HEW) This is a list of the most common toxic materials found in e-waste, and the health issues caused by prolonged exposure when handled unsafely. Information retrieved from the Center of Disease Control (CDC, 2014).
Heavy metals can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact.
| E-waste Toxins |
Types of Exposure |
Acute Symptoms |
Chronic Symptoms |
| Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs)
Common Types:
- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
- Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
- Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
|
|
- Central nervous system excitation: seizures
- Mountain Sickness
|
- Learning disabilities
- Neurological disorders
- Endocrine system disruptions (e.g. thyroid, hormone imbalances)
- Seizures
|
| Beryllium |
|
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Fever
- Rash
|
- Lung cancer
- Skin bumps
- Poor wound healing
|
| Cadmium |
|
|
- Lung cancer
- Kidney damage
|
| Lead |
- Inhalation
- Ingestion
- Skin contact
|
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Headache
- Seizures
|
- Encephalopathy
- Anemia
- Abdominal pain
- Nephropathy
- Foot-drop/wrist-drop
|
| Mercury |
|
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Diarrhea
|
- Nausea
- Metallic taste
- Gingivo-stomatitis
- Tremor
- Neurasthenia
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Hypersensitivity (Pink disease)
|
