VCE Environmental Science

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Electric and electronic waste, including computers, monitors, keyboards, mobile phones and games consoles, are an increasing problem, in many parts of the world. This article, “Where computers go to die — and kill” describes the situation in a province of south-eastern China, where tonnes of toxic waste continue to be dumped, threatening the health of workers and residents. There is another article here: “Poison PC’s“. Find out what pollutants are contained in e-waste. How are these pollutants transported through the environment and how persistent are they? What are some of the human and environmental health effects of these chemicals? How can this type of contamination be minimised or prevented?

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Mercury, dioxin, hexachlorobenzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s) are all persistent, bioaccumulative toxics (PBT’s) and therefore pose risks to human health and the environment. Hexachlorobenzene and PAH’s are probably carcinogens, according to the U.S. E.P.A. More information here.

This animation shows the chain of contamination in the human food supply.