HARMFUL EFFECTS CAUSED BY IMPROPER COMPUTER & ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

Computing systems are comprised of more than 1,000 materials, many of which are highly toxic to our air, land and water systems. These components include chlorinated and brominated substances, toxic gases, toxic metals, photo-active and biologically active materials, acids, plastics and plastic additives.

Toxic materials in computer components include:

• Lead and cadmium in computer circuit boards
• Lead oxide and barium in computer monitors' cathode ray tubes
• Mercury in switches and flat screens and
• Brominated flame retardants on printed circuit boards, cables and plastic casing.

The lead inside of the glass in monitors protects us from radiation that is given off by the computer monitor. This radiation can be harmful to us if the leaded screen was not there.

However, the cathode ray tubes (CRTs) -- or picture tubes -- found in color monitors and TVs leach, on average, more than four times the amount of lead the Environmental Protection Agency defines as hazardous when they are crushed in landfills.