About Cell Phones Materials
It's estimated that over 1 million cell phones are disposed of annually in the U.S. Very few consumers realize what goes into manufacturing a cell phone and the hazards they are contributing to the environment each time they toss another phone.
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Chemical Makeup of Cell Phones
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The Environmental Protection Agency found that a typical cell phone handset is comprised of 40 percent plastic, 40 percent metal and 20 percent trace materials. In order to manufacture some of these components, crude oil is processed with natural gas to produce the plastic, while copper is mined and treated with chemicals to produce the wiring and circuit boards.
Cell Phone Batteries
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Data provided by Earth911.com revealed that cell phone batteries, known as "Ni-Cd" batteries, were originally manufactured using nickel and cadmium. Cadmium is a known carcinogen that can lead to organ failure in humans. Alternatives to Ni-Cd batteries contain lead, which can be toxic, and lithium, which can explode.
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Environmental Effects of Discarded Cell Phones
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Cell phone components contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic--all of which can release harmful toxins into the air if incinerated. If cell phones are just thrown into landfills, these toxins can seep into and contaminate the water supply and surrounding environment. The energy saved from recycling 100 million cell phones per year could power nearly 200,000 homes in the U.S. for one year.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit cell phone call image by Donald Joski from Fotolia.com
