Nick Ling & Danica Hill

Presentation Powerpoint:E-waste Risk Assessment.ppt

A little background

E-wasting can generally be explained as the recycling and breaking down of all sorts of electronic devices. These electronic devices contain circuit boards, switches, and screens and more. Within these different parts are a wide range of toxic chemicals such as brominated flame retardants to keep the computer from catching on fire, mercury phosphor in the lamps that light up the screen and many other rare toxic materials. These wasted old computers and other electronics are being shipped off to developing countries to be recycled.
It is a growing dangerous industry and the ways of disposal are insufficient environmentally and health wise. Ways of disposal are landfills, incineration, and open burning. In some cases components can be recycled and reused as well, but at a costly price to the places where the processes take place and to the people who are conducting the processes. People in third world countries are at most risk because they do not have the same health laws and regulations that we have here.

Summary of presentation

ADVOCACY GROUPS

Basel Action Network    http://www.ban.org/

E-Stewards                 http://www.e-stewards.org/

WEBSITES

e-waste guide   http://ewasteguide.info/

Earth Trends     http://earthtrends.wri.org/updates/node/130

More Resources

EPA Dioxin       http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/CFM/nceaQFind.cfm?keyword=Dioxin

ATSDR            http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts104.html

WHO              http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/index.html

USA Today      http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2006-07-11-dioxin_x.htm

Dioxin Facts     http://www.heartland.org/custom/semod_policybot/pdf/15207.pdf

Greenpeace      http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/where-does-e-waste-end-up

Time Photos     http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1870162_1822148,00.html

Seattle Times   http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002920133_ewaste09.html

60 Minutes       http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/60minutes/main4579229.shtml

CDC NOAEL      http://www.dioxinfacts.org/dioxin_health/dioxin_food/dioxinTEQgraphic.pdf

OEHHA NOAEL  http://oehha.ca.gov/air/chronic_rels/pdf/chlordibenz.pdf

Writing

editorial danica
letter to the Governor - Danica
editorial nick
letter to Maria Cantwell - Nick Ling

VIDEO

Ghana:Digital Dumping Ground    http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/ghana804/video/video_index.html