Toxins in Computers

This page is being migrated to a documnent of Free Geek's Google Drive. Once the migration is done, we will post a link to the new page.

New Page

This page or section appears to be out of date or otherwise inaccurate.
Please edit as seems necessary, removing the {{cleanup}} tag when you are through.

I wanted to have this list of the unhealthy stuff contained in computers be public. Perhaps eventually, the list could go onto a "Why Recycle?" web page on our site.

• Barium (CRT): Intestinal illness, muscular weakness
• Beryllium (electronics): Can damge bones, cause cancer
• Cadmium (batteries and circuit boards): Kidney, liver, bone, and blood damage
• Hexavalent chromium (steel): liver, kidney, nerve tissues
• Lead (CRT, circuit boards): Vascular and kidney disease, brain disorders in young children
• Mercury (LCD, flat panel displays, batteries): kidney damage
• Phosphorus (CRT): skin, eye, and stomach irritation
• Brominated flame retardants (plastics, cables, CRTs): endocrine disruptor, neurotoxin
• Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
• Toner(Laser printers, fax machines) Lung irritant and possible carcinogen

The following are links to info about e-waste:

• Earth 911
• BAN
• Ewaste Guide
• American Public Media