Today, on World Oceans Day (June 8), we want to highlight the role that technology plays in improving society, but also the impact it has on natural environments—in this case, marine environments. We examine the enormous consequences of e-waste in the oceans.
Environmental agencies around the world are clear on this: Already, two-thirds of aquatic life is considered to be at serious risk of extinction due to the improper disposal of chemicals and other waste. What’s more, when toxic waste (including e-waste) harms an organism, it can end up destroying an entire aquatic food chain. And this is happening more frequently and at an ever-increasing rate.
It was already established in 2017 that we are losing biodiversity at a rate 1,000 times faster than we should. And the problem is spreading. Improperly disposed of chemicals pollute marine life and kill marine mammals, corals, and fish. At the same time, seabirds are affected because they eat the fish. In fact, any organism that ingests the affected marine life may suffer adverse effects.
Electronic waste (e-waste) does not have to be dumped directly into the world's water sources to end up there. Electronic waste deposited in landfills can harm marine wildlife, since the toxic chemicals in e-waste that do not break down naturally can, over time, seep directly into the environment and contaminate groundwater; and if the equipment is incinerated, the toxins are released into the atmosphere and return in the form of atmospheric precipitation or acid rain.
The following heavy metals, toxic substances, and hazardous chemicals are used in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment that almost all of us use in our daily lives. It is after their useful life, when they are dumped in landfills, incinerated, or dumped into waterways, that they become most devastating and turn into what is known as e-waste.
That’s why we champion the power of refurbished equipment, which helps reduce the production of new materials, helping you improve your efficiency as well as your commitment to sustainability and a better life. Let’s put an end to e-waste.
Lead
According to research by Greenpeace, metallic lead, in its various forms, is used in:
- batteries and soldering [on circuit boards]
- alloy (with tin)
- the glass in cathode-ray tubes (CRTs)
- compounds used as stabilizers in PVC formulations
At landfills, the incineration and burning of e-waste can cause lead to be released into the air from the resulting ash; lead oxide dust or vapors can be released during shredding or high-temperature processing, including smelting. Once on the ground, lead seeps into groundwater; once in the air, it can be captured as acid rain, which falls back to the earth, into the soil and groundwater, and is discharged into springs, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
According to Greenpeace, lead in the blood has a toxic effect, particularly on the developing central nervous system. Similar effects are observed in animals, and lead is also toxic to all aquatic life.
Mercury
Mercury is used in:
- smartphone batteries
- glass screens
- circuit diagrams
Mercury in e-waste poses a long-term threat, as it can remain in the soil and groundwater systems for long periods of time—even centuries. For marine life, the consequences are devastating. Think of an earthworm or a fish in a river: “Larger animals that ingest these organisms,” says Reset.org, “also become contaminated, and the toxin moves up the food chain.”
According to the organization Reset.org, mercury can “reduce fish reproductive capabilities, affect their growth and development, cause behavioral abnormalities, disrupt blood and oxygen exchange, impair sensory processes, and can even be fatal. Contaminated plankton leads to contaminated fish and birds, and, in turn, could indirectly contaminate humans in the future.”
Chromium
“The chromium compounds used in the production of metal casings are highly toxic and carcinogenic to humans,” says Greenpeace. Studies show that fish and marine life may be suffering the same consequences. In fact, the gills, liver, kidneys, stomach, and digestive tract of rainbow trout show the most damage after exposure to chromium, which is present in much e-waste equipment.
Cadmium
Cadmium, which is used in batteries, electrical contacts, and older CRTs that eventually become e-waste, can bioaccumulate in the environment and is highly toxic, primarily affecting the human kidneys and bones. Cadmium is generally used in:
- Protective coating on steel
- in PVC stabilizers
- in pigments for plastics and glass
- as an electrode material in nickel-cadmium batteries (use of which has increased in recent years)
- as a component of various alloys (its use has declined in recent years)
The salmon family is particularly susceptible to cadmium. Effects have been observed in fish, such as spinal deformities. Furthermore, rising global temperatures do not bode well for cadmium toxicity in marine life, as they increase absorption and toxic effects.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)
According to Greenpeace, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are among the compounds commonly used as flame-retardant additives in plastics and foams, including the plastic casings of electronic devices and, therefore, in e-waste. Highly bioaccumulative and toxic, some PBDEs detected in indoor air and dust in the workplace and at home are also found in nearly every part of the environment, including sediments, freshwater and marine fish, bird eggs, and even whales in the deep ocean and the Arctic.
Laboratory experiments have shown that exposure to PBDEs is associated with endocrine disruption, reproductive disorders, and impaired immunity; it affects neurological development; and it interferes with vitamin A and thyroid hormones.
TPP
Triphenyl phosphate has long been used as a flame retardant and was present at levels of up to 10% by weight of the plastic in the outer casings of some computer monitors. With the prevalence of TPP in the environment in the form of e-waste, the damage has already been done—and continues. “TPP is the most toxic to aquatic life of all commonly used triaryl phosphates (IPCS 1991),” says Greenpeace.
E-waste: A Problem That's Getting Worse
Looking at past and current events, the solution seems to be far beyond our reach.
The global market for electronic equipment is expanding, while the lifespan of many products is shrinking; as a result, the already enormous flow of waste from obsolete electrical and electronic products (e-waste) continues to grow. In 2019, a record 53.6 million metric tons (Mt) of e-waste was generated worldwide—a 21 percent increase in just five years—according to the UN’s 2020 Global E-Waste Monitor.
At MercadoIT, we are doing everything we can to change the mindset of both producers and consumers regarding “electronic waste” (e-waste) and “electronic materials,” to extract significant value from these materials, extend their lifecycles, and ultimately reuse and recycle devices responsibly.
Here are some other ways that manufacturers and consumers of electronic devices can help prevent and reduce the environmental impact of e-waste on our oceans:
- Work on product designs and manufacturing techniques focused on non-toxic materials, ease of repair, and longer lifespans for devices in general
- Advocate for greater producer responsibility in the management of end-of-life waste
- Support research on ecosystem health and ways to mitigate or repair the damage caused by electronic materials that end up in the environment.
- Support strict regulations for formal recycling and proper disposal methods
- Buy fewer electronic devices and keep them longer
It is clear that professional IT equipment requires more materials and a more complicated production process, as well as the separation of materials and components for recycling. Most of this equipment is not properly recycled and ends up in domestic landfills or in countries on the other side of the world, where it becomes e-waste.
That is why at MercadoIT we highlight the transformative power of refurbished equipment for your organization, since it works exactly as well as it did on the first day, comes with professional warranties and maintenance, offers flexibility in purchase or lease options, provides significant cost savings, and demonstrates strong corporate and environmental responsibility.
At MercadoIT, we help reduce e-waste by an average of 15 metric tons per year by reusing IT equipment for businesses and professionals.
Do you want to improve your company's profitability and its environmental commitment? Contact us.
