The world is realizing and becoming concerned about the waste that is generated from electronic products. While cell phones represent a small percentage of this total waste, due to their small size and rapid replacement cycle, they are more likely to end up in the waste stream and contribute a growing portion of the toxic materials that end up in our landfills.
Cell phones and their accessories contain a large number of hazardous substances known as Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals (PBTs).
Included in the list of PBTs are metals (e.g. antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper and lead) which can linger in the environment for a long time and have adverse effects on human health. A number of these chemicals have been known to cause damage to the nervous system, reproductive and development problems, cancer and have other genetic impacts.
The Secret Life of Cell Phones - INFORM
Endangered Animals
An ore called Coltan (columbite-tantalite) is a source of the element tantalum which is an essential coating for components of cell phones. This ore is often found in the Congo in the middle of endangered gorilla and elephant habitats. These animals are being killed by rebel bands mining this ore. The U.N. has reported that in the past five years, the eastern lowland gorilla population in the Congo has declined 90%. Reducing the demand for Coltan will help save these animals and their habitat.
gorilla cam
Watch the Gorillas on the Cincinnati Zoo’s Gorilla Cam
The Scope of the Problem
According to the EPA 130 million cellular phones will go out of use this year. That creates an estimated 65,000 tons of electronic garbage. If you add in the rapidly growing number of out of use phones, it is estimated that by 2005 there will be over 700 million retired phones in the U.S. Out of this number, 75% will be stored in people’s homes and another 5% will be recycled. The final 20% will simply be thrown away as trash.
Much of the information utilized in this section about cellular waste/pollution is from the most comprehensive study to date on the problem, "Waste
in the Wireless World: The Challenge of Cell Phones".
It was sponsored by the EPA and conducted in 2002 by INFORM, a national nonprofit research organization. The information on coltan was compiled from reports filed by Radio
Expedition, a co production of National Public Radio and
the National Geographic Society, in 2001 and a Reuters news
story, "Mining Drives Congo Gorillas
Close to Extinction" by Simon Denyer in 2001.
More Information About
Coltan and Its Impact On Gorilla Habitats
Coltan, Mining and Biodiversity Conservation in Eastern Democrative Republic of Congo (First Version, March 2004; Updated December, 2005) Read more (pdf)
Born Free Foundation - campaigns for the protection of animals in their natural habitat Coltan Boom, Gorilla Bust - The Impact of Coltan Mining on Gorillas and
Other Wildlife in Eastern DR Congo
Report by Ian Redman www.bornfree.org.uk/coltan/
Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund - works internationally to save the mountain gorillas from extinction 