The Final Problem A Case Study

Made by- Team SHERLOCK

• Sayanta Adhikari
• Ankit Kumar
Case Study 1
Management of E-Waste
E-Waste Component Electric Appliances in which they are found Adverse Health Effects

Americium The radioactive source in smoke alarms. It is known to be carcinogenic.[89]

Adverse effects of lead exposure include impaired

cognitive function, behavioral disturbances, attention
Solder, CRT monitor glass, lead-acid batteries, some formulations of PVC. A deficits, hyperactivity, conduct problems, and lower
Lead typical 15-inch cathode ray tube may contain 1.5 pounds of lead,[5]but other IQ.[90] These effects are most damaging to children
CRTs have been estimated as having up to 8 pounds of lead. whose developing nervous systems are very
susceptible to damage caused by lead, cadmium, and
mercury.[91]

Health effects include sensory impairment, dermatitis,

memory loss, and muscle weakness. Exposure in-utero
Found in fluorescent tubes (numerous applications), tilt switches (mechanical causes fetal deficits in motor function, attention, and
Mercury
doorbells, thermostats),[92] and ccfl backlights in flat screen monitors. verbal domains.[90] Environmental effects in animals
include death, reduced fertility, and slower growth and
development.

Found in light-sensitive resistors, corrosion-resistant alloys for marine and

aviation environments, and nickel-cadmium batteries. The most common
form of cadmium is found in Nickel-cadmium rechargeable batteries. These The inhalation of cadmium can cause severe damage
batteries tend to contain between 6 and 18% cadmium. The sale of Nickel- to the lungs and is also known to cause kidney
Cadmium Cadmium batteries has been banned in the European Union except for damage.[93] Cadmium is also associated with deficits in
medical use. When not properly recycled it can leach into the soil, harming cognition, learning, behavior, and neuromotor skills in
microorganisms and disrupting the soil ecosystem. Exposure is caused by children.[90]
proximity to hazardous waste sites and factories and workers in the metal
refining industry.

A known carcinogen after occupational inhalation

exposure.[90]There is also evidence of cytotoxic and
genotoxic effects of some chemicals, which have been
Hexavalent chromium Used in metal coatings to protect from corrosion.
shown to inhibit cell proliferation, cause cell membrane
lesion, cause DNA single-strand breaks, and elevate
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels.[94]

Health effects include liver damage, kidney damage,

heart damage, eye and throat irritation. When released
Sulphur Found in lead-acid batteries.
into the environment, it can create sulphuric
acid through sulphur dioxide.
E-Waste Component Electric Appliances in which they are found Adverse Health Effects
Health effects include impaired development of the
nervous system, thyroid problems, liver
Used as flame retardants in plastics in most electronics.
Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs) problems.[95] Environmental effects: similar effects as
Includes PBBs, PBDE, DecaBDE, OctaBDE, PentaBDE.
in animals as humans. PBBs were banned from 1973 to
1977 on. PCBs were banned during the 1980s.
Studies in mice have found the following health
effects: Hepatotoxicity, developmental toxicity,
immunotoxicity, hormonal effects and carcinogenic
effects. Studies have found increased maternal PFOA
Used as an antistatic additive in industrial applications
levels to be associated with an increased risk of
and found in electronics, also found in non-stick
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) and stillbirth.
cookware (PTFE). PFOAs are formed synthetically
Increased maternal levels of PFOA are also associated
through environmental degradation.
with decreases in mean gestational age (preterm
birth), mean birth weight (low birth weight), mean
birth length (small for gestational age), and mean
APGAR score.[96]
Filler in some thermal interface materials such
as thermal grease used Occupational exposures associated with lung cancer,
on heatsinks for CPUs and power other common adverse health effects are beryllium
Beryllium oxide
transistors,[97] magnetrons, X-ray-transparent ceramic sensitization, chronic beryllium disease, and acute
windows, heat transfer fins in vacuum tubes, and gas beryllium disease.[98]
lasers.
In the manufacturing phase, toxic and hazardous raw
material, including dioxins are released. PVC such as
chlorine tend to bioaccumulate.[100] Over time, the
Commonly found in electronics and is typically used as compounds that contain chlorine can become
Polyvinyl chloride(PVC)
insulation for electrical cables.[99] pollutants in the air, water, and soil. This poses a
problem as human and animals can ingest them.
Additionally, exposure to toxins can result in
reproductive and developmental health effects.[101]
One of the Key Solution would be
Making a Centralized Association
• To manage the e-waste management system
Every city, town and village should have a e-waste collection point.
The approx. 2 million rag pickers present in our country must be taken
under one shed (Association of Waste collection).
Some heads must be appointed to each area who would supervise the
working of the rag pickers. These heads would be those people only to
whom the rag pickers previously would sell the wastes.
They should be taught to collect the waste in a particular manner(
recyclable waste should be collected separately).
There should be a regular supervision of the works of the head by the
Centrals of this association.
The association would be paying every heads the money for their work.
• The second stage of this association would be a team that would be
separating the waste according to their constituents/components.
• In the third stage of the Association:
 The waste will be divided into two parts:
 REPAIR AND REUSE: The components that are partially damaged would be send
to companies and repaired and reused.
 RECYCLE: The components which are totally damaged must be melted and
recycled.