E-Waste
Samuel Chang, Kathryn Quiralte, Eric Stocker, Daniel Trinh, and Catherine YangContributorsWhat is e-waste? E-waste comes in many forms, from broken blenders to old smart phones, and it is defined as anything that runs on electricity (anything with a cord or battery) that is no longer usable. Improper disposal of e-waste and batteries can cause major health problems due to the potentially toxic make-up of these products, which consist of elements such as cadmium and lead.Although a portion of cadmium-containing products can be recycled, most of the electronic products containing cadmium are dumped or incinerated. After cadmium is dumped in landfills (thereby becoming e-waste), it is absorbed into the ground and eventually seeps into water as the Cd2+ ion. A large source of cadmium consumption comes from drinking contaminated water and eating foods that contain cadmium (mainly shellfish that live in contaminated waters). Because cadmium is burned, it can also enter our bodies as a gas or fume when we inhale it.Once the cadmium enters the blood stream and travels to the liver and kidneys (50 percent of cadmium goes to these organs), it remains there. This intake immediately triggers the production of metallothionein, a zinc and cadmium binding protein. However, when the proteins attach to the zinc and cadmium, the proteins attach to cadmium more strongly, causing zinc deficiency in the body. Zinc is vital for over 200 chemical reactions in the body. It controls hormone levels, helps to produce antioxidants and boosts the immune system. Symptoms of zinc deficiency include frequent infections and depression.Cadmium should exit the body through the tubules, but due to its 10-30 year half life, most of it stays in the body. According to AP Biology teacher Ingo Gaida, “You would not be able to outlive the half-life and its effects.” In addition, he says, “The excretion rate is also almost negligible because most of the cadmium that travels through the tubules to become urinated and excreted is reabsorbed back into the tubules.” This constant buildup of cadmium causes kidney stones, bronchitis, lowered birth rates and lung cancer, among other health problems.Lead-acid batteries provide an alternative for pollution free energy and provide emergency power for hospitals, submarines and air traffic control towers. Lead based batteries are 95 percent recyclable, and reusing parts from the batteries creates less air pollution and keeps them out of landfills. However, if lead batteries are not properly recycled they have the potential to contaminate our water and food supply. Lead poses as a great risk to human health as it affects the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive system and cardiovascular system.It is extremely important to properly dispose of electronic products in order to avoid the negative effects of e-waste pollution. In the Santa Monica community, residents can easily recycle electronics at the Santa Monica Community Recycling Center.From Tuesday, May 28th to Friday, May 31st, AP Chemistry Martha Chacon's class will be holding an e-waste drive. Please bring your old electronics to the Olympic gate before school or to Chacon's room, T202, throughout the day.eic@thesamohi.com