Toxins in Computers

For more detailed information click on the toxin.

• Barium (CRT): Intestinal illness, muscular weakness

Beryllium

• (electronics): Can damge bones, cause cancer

Found in:

• Springs, relays, clips and connections on boards where flexibility in copper is needed
• copper-beryllium alloy (typically 98% copper, 2% beryllium)

Impacts:
Beryllium = known human carcinogen
Beryllium dust (from shredding) & fumes (from high temp metal refining processes) can cause berylliosis with permanent lung scarring, and can be fatal

Cadmium

• (batteries and circuit boards): Kidney, liver, bone, and blood damage

Found in:

• Some contacts, switches
• Rechargeable nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, e.g. in laptops
• Used as a stabilizer in some PVC formulations, e.g. wire insulation
• On some circuit boards in plated contacts and switches
• Cadmium sulphide used in older CRTs’ phosphors coating

Impacts:

• Highly toxic to plants, animals and humans, causing kidney and bone damage at low levels, heart disease, & hypertension.
• Known human carcinogen.
• Bioaccumulative.

• Hexavalent chromium (steel): liver, kidney, nerve tissues
• Lead (CRT, circuit boards): Vascular and kidney disease, brain disorders in young children
• Mercury (LCD, flat panel displays, batteries): kidney damage
• Phosphorus (CRT): skin, eye, and stomach irritation
• Brominated flame retardants (plastics, cables, CRTs): endocrine disruptor, neurotoxin
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)

The following are links to info about e-waste:

• [Earth 911]
• [BAN]
• [Ewaste Guide]
• [American Public Media]