Hazardous e-waste threat to environment

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Dr Iqbal Saeed Khan
The stream of obsolete electrical and electronic products that is disposed of is commonly termed as e-waste. The major components of e-waste are computers and their accessories. It’s estimated that the quantity of e-waste ranges from 20 million tones to 50 million tones every year. The growing number of consumers of electronic items has further compounded the issue, and the problem of e-waste is also escalating in Karachi.

While this phenomenon is a global one, the problem in Pakistan is of a greater magnitude as it has become a dumping ground of a host of obsolete computers and its accessories which are shipped to the country. During previous years, a number of containers with a large quantity of computers, computer accessories and related gadgets were imported to Pakistan. Mobile phones, too, have the same adverse effect on the environment as other electronic items.

E-waste comprises of toxic agents like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), copper, lead, zinc, gold, iron, thallium etc. One of the most toxic equipment is Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) present in monitors of Computer and TV which contains lead – a deadly metal. Lead is poisonous for the nervous system and acts as a neurotoxin once it enters the human body. Lead causes the progressive disruption of brain’s functions and if toxic levels are high, it can also lead to paralysis. It can also be the cause of anemia and bone marrow depression if it enters the human body through lead laced water.

Other toxic metals found in electronic equipments include cadmium – a primary component of some batteries and circuit boards – which is a known carcinogen. Another heavy metal, Mercury, is toxic for humans and animals both and, if present, can lead to neurological disorders as mercury and its chemicals interrupts neuronal conduction in brain and nerves. PCB’s – among the most potent toxins called dioxins – are persistent organic pollutants and can cause birth defect.

In Pakistan, people responsible for handling e-waste and those who are extracting valuables from computers are incognizant of their toxic effects. When different components of computers and various computer accessories are burnt in an open atmosphere, they pollute the air by releasing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, soot particles and black smoke. This pollution leads to allergic manifestation and various skin and respiratory tract disorders. While it is common knowledge that e-waste is categorized as “toxic waste”, the air of Karachi is already polluted due to smoke emitted by vehicles and hazardous disposal of toxic industrial waste.

The main scrap market in Karachi is located at Shershah, where computers and other electronic items are routinely dismantled by mechanical means without any protective measures to avoid pollution, while burning of various electronic items is also a routine occurrence. The presence of piles of out-dated and defunct computers dumped alongside water bodies or the unscientific disposal at landfills are extremely injurious to all living beings including humans. The removal of such toxic waste by unscientific means, therefore, poses yet another great threat to our well-being. Despite being detrimental to the environment, these activities continue unabated.

The burning of such equipment in the open air and without proper scientific precaution can lead to the release of these dangerous gases in the air and pollution of the environment; placing unsuspecting humans and other life forms at risk. In order to avoid such type of waste and consequent hazards, it is important not to import old and out-dated electronic gadgets, especially computers and cellular devices. It is a well known fact the developed countries get rid of their undesirable computers and other equipment considered scrap by sending shipments out to developing countries and Pakistan is a prime example of such behaviour.

Also, the manufacturers of these hardwares should to be made responsible for the collection of these electronic items or should atleast be required to disseminate knowledge about proper disposal of e-waste. There is a dire need for proper management of this scrap industry, particularly in the larger cities of Pakistan.

As is the case in Karachi, there are no sanitary landfills available; hence, the remnants and the highly toxic waste is dumped in pits and left at the mercy of nature.

Besides a host of heavy metals – which continue to pollute our water bodies, land, soil, and air – the disposal of computers and other e-waste requires scientific supervision and proper channels.

—The writer is an authority on environment and former DG/Director Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Sindh

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