EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -According to the World Health Organization (WHO), health risks may result from direct contact with toxic materials that leach from e-waste. These include minerals such as lead, cadmium, chromium, brominated flame retardants, or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).

Detailed explanation-2: -E-waste is categorized as hazardous waste due to the presence of toxic materials such as mercury, lead and brominated flame retardants are considered as hazardous waste according to the Basel Convention.

Detailed explanation-3: -Impact of e-waste on human health Workers, aiming to recover valuable materials such as copper and gold, are at risk of exposure to over 1, 000 harmful substances, including lead, mercury, nickel, brominated flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Detailed explanation-4: -Among the list of wastes considered hazardous because of their toxicity, you’ll find heavy metals.

Detailed explanation-5: -Toxic metals (e.g., lead, mercury, nickel, and cadmium) are released to the environment from the e-waste and eventually enter into soil, sediment, groundwater, and surface water. The release of toxic metals in the environment causes adverse effects on human health, aquatic animals, and plants.