What Materials Are Computer Monitors Made From?
With the modern emphasis on recycling, the composition of computer peripherals, including monitors, are under scrutiny. Fortunately, modern monitors are made from more easily recycled materials, and consumer monitors no longer use cathode ray tubes. However, some materials in computer monitors may be toxic, and your old display should be recycled rather than thrown away.
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LCD Displays
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Most computer monitors now use liquid crystal diode displays that send a small electrical charge to thin film transistors sandwiched between two thin sheets of glass. Because LCD displays don't generate light, fluorescent lights or light-emitting diodes shine through the LCD to illuminate the images. Electronic printed circuits and transistors carry electricity and the computer's graphics for display. Most monitors are housed in plastic cases but some use a metal housing.
CRT Displays
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Before LCD monitors became common, displays used cathode ray tubes in which an electron gun projected a beam onto a screen impregnated with phosphors. Although some of the other components such as circuitry and housing were similar in composition to those in LCD displays, the size and bulk of the CRT itself made these monitors much larger and heavier than the LCDs of similar screen dimensions. In addition, CRT screens were usually made of leaded glass to protect the viewer from the effects of the X-rays generated by the monitor.
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Toxic Materials
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To display bright, clear images, monitors have historically incorporated toxic materials. CRT monitors could incorporate several pounds of lead in the glass tube, and LCD screens can still contain traces of arsenic, which is used to prevent bubbles between the glass plates. The fluorescent backlighting still used by many LCD displays contains small amounts of mercury, and brominated flame retardants are still used by some companies in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. Although today these substances exist only in trace amounts and aren't harmful to the viewer, their combined volume in landfills can contaminate soil and water.
Recycling
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Because of the toxic materials in many computer monitors, you should always recycle old equipment instead of placing it in the trash. Some manufacturers and stores will accept used equipment for recycling without charge. Apple and Dell are phasing out the use of toxic substances and incorporating recycled materials into their new displays.
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References
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