1. E-Waste Negatively Impacts The Soil
First, e-waste can have a damaging effect on the soil of a region. As e-waste breaks down, it releases toxic heavy metals. Such heavy metals include lead, arsenic, and cadmium.
When these toxins leach into the soil, they influence the plants and trees that are crowing from this soil.
Thus, these toxins can enter the human food supply, which can lead to birth defects as well as a number of other health complications.
2. E-Waste Negatively Impacts The Water
E-waste that is improperly disposed of by residents or businesses also leads to toxins entering groundwater.
This groundwater is what underlies many surface streams, ponds, and lakes. Many animals rely on these channels of water for nourishment. Thus, these toxins can make these animals sick and cause imbalances in the planetary ecosystem.
E-waste can also impact humans that rely on this water. Toxins like lead, barium, mercury, and lithium.
3. E-Waste Negatively Impacts The Air
When e-waste is disposed of at the landfill, it’s usually burned by incinerators on site.
This process can release hydrocarbons in the atmosphere, which pollutes the air that many animals and humans rely on.
Furthermore, these hydrocarbons can contribute to the greenhouse gas effect, which many scientists think is a leading contributor to global warming.
In some parts of the world, desperate people sift through landfills in order to salvage e-waste for money. Yet, some of these people burn unwanted parts like wires in order to extract copper, which can lead to air pollution as well.