Extremely Vicious: Toxicity Can Also Be Found In Your Electronic Devices

Extremely Vicious

Electronic waste is an issue that needs to be addressed. It wreaked havoc on people not only along the coast but all over the world. Not only is it dangerous because it is indeed a waste, but the peril is heightened because it comes from unused electronic devices and parts. We can’t hide the fact that it’s considered one of the main causes of danger to our environment and to humans. According to the latest Global E-waste Monitor report of the United Nations, the Philippines had generated 3.9 kg of e-waste two years ago, and it continues to rise as the population gets bigger. With all that, it continues to grow rapidly, and we didn’t know that we generate almost 50 million tons of electronic waste every year. Imagine how enormous the amount is and how it can change our lives—in terms of living peacefully and the status of our mother nature.

When it comes to the aftermath of a mountain of electronic waste, the air we breathe is now accompanied by toxicity caused by the burning of injurious substances that compose the devices we are using. Some examples of these substances are zinc, nickel, lead, barium, and chromium, which are extremely detrimental to our nature. A kilogram of this waste can cause a natural resource shortage and illnesses that primarily target our immune system. Aside from contaminating our air, electronic waste can also affect our land and water by accidentally or deliberately mixing the toxic chemicals from the electronic gadgets with the water. When it comes to our land, improper disposal is one of the main reasons why it will remain unused because it has become a virulent landfill.

Moreover, I can see that big company manufacturers (Apple and Microsoft) of computers are maximizing their scope in order to address the possible issues when the product they're selling will soon be useless as upgrades happen. I commend their efforts, even though it's the bare minimum when you're in the trading and selling business.

                 (Watch the video created by Microsoft in order to reduce their own electronic waste.)

Furthermore, we can minimize our e-waste by making them useful for a long time. For example, if I buy another phone and I don't think my other phone will be useful to me, then I could pass it down to my nieces and relatives or donate it to some people here in our barangay. Also, if it's reparable, just repair it; it's cheap and causes less harm to our nature. Thus, we have different ways of finding satisfaction in our lives, but let's keep in mind that we are also the ones suffering from the actions that we take.

REFERENCES:

WEEE: Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment – Impact of WEEE. (n.d.). https://ewaste.ece.uw.edu/students/impacts-of-e-waste-on-the-environment/

Gibbons, S. (2021, October 21). How Companies Are Addressing The E-Waste Problem. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/serenitygibbons/2021/10/21/how-companies-are-addressing-the-e-waste-problem/?sh=208bd0a17c21

Smith, B. (2022, December 3). Microsoft commits to achieve ‘zero waste’ goals by 2030. The Official Microsoft Blog. https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/08/04/microsoft-direct-operations-products-and-packaging-to-be-zero-waste-by-2030/

All of the photos are not mine and were retrieved from Google.