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.
Heavy metals can enter the body through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact.
*Source: Center for Disease Control, 2014.
| 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)
|
