Impact of Electronic Waste on Soil - Book Report/Review Example

 Impact of Electronic Waste on Soil: Literature Review Abstract This paper is about electronic waste dumping and its impacts on soil. It reviewed a research carried out in the electronic dumping sites in India. The sites were Loni and Mandoli. The paper reviewed different books, journals and peer-reviewed articles to establish the impacts of the electronic dumping on the soils of India. From the sources offer that soil and dust samples were collected in the industrial areas of Mandoli and Loni for heavy metal testing. The most abundant toxic metals were found to mercury, zinc and lead. These metals were said to being carried away by agents such water and wind to various parts of India. It was then concluded that the heavy metals from the electronic dumping sites had adverse effects on soil including but not limited to soil degradation and vegetation lose. This situation would worsen if the Indian government did not take urgent measures to curb it. Keywords: Electronic, Dumping, Heavy metals, Toxic, Soil, Degradation Introduction Soil degradation, vegetation extinction and human health complication have been established as the main impacts of electric equipment dumping in India (Pearson et al, 2003). Many researches about electric waste have been carried out on various locations of India and the results point at the similar consequences (EIA, 2011). Most electric equipment including but not limited to television sets, radio and mobile phones usually bear harmful metals that diffuses into soil and later emerge as a human threat. Such harmful metallic elements include Lead, Copper, Zinc and Mercury (European Commission, 2011). The electrons emitted by these metals can cause soil composition imbalance and reduction in productivity. Several findings claim that developed nations are the major culprits of electronic waste dumping (EIA, 2011). On the contrary, the less developed nations such as India have been on the receiving end of the harm (Kikuchi, 2013). Review India has been quoted as one of the most profound examples of places where there is frequent occurrence of electronic waste dumping (Eerd, 1996). It has crude factories that deal in electronic waste management and recycling. However, the activities of these factories do not meet the required standards of other companies in the world (Yang et al, 2013). Most of these factories have not taken enough precautions to ensure that there is no emission and leakage of toxic traces from the electronic equipment (Grossman, 2006). In fact, some of the machines used in these facilities are not modern, therefore, may not perform the filtration of the harmful metal traces (Siddique, 2010). India is a developing country yet it invested in the management of used electric equipment. Being a developing may imply that it has not yet attained some required technological level to carry such operations (Eerd, 1996). This state has put both soil and the people of India at constant risk of the very lethal Mercury and the associate elements. The soil and the people living in the areas surrounding the factories not only take in the harmful chemicals from the air but also drink them in water (EIA, 2011). In a recent research by a non-governmental organization in India, the electronics equipment waste has caused an increase in soil pollution (Grossman, 2006). Loni is one location in India where dumping of electronic equipment take place. In the research, soil samples were collected in this area for lab testing. The lab results revealed that the soils in Loni carry high percentages of heavy metals of which the equipment are made (Eerd, 1996). In another research at Loni (Elretur, 2010), water samples from various sources such as rivers, ponds and dams were collected for testing. Shocking enough, the traces of heavy metals were also present in the water. The reason why water is relevant here is that it carries the heavy metals from the dumping sites to various parts of the land. Through this transmission, the toxic chemicals get into the soil. Environment scientists from the World Health Organization suggested that the heavy metals at the dumping sites are usually carried away by rain water and wind (Yang et al, 2013). This is how these harmful elements find their way into ponds, dams and soil (Sauser et al, 2014). The most common and abundant heavy metals released from the recycling of electronic equipment include but not limited to Zinc, Mercury and Lead. In the research at Loni, these toxic metals had reached very high levels both in soil and water. In one of the experiments, soil sample was first dried to remove excessive air. 10 grams of dried soil sample was then put into 20 mL of 0.005M Diethelenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). The solution was then filtrated and analyzed for Zinc and Mercury. The results showed that Mercury level was as high as 20 times the normal prescribed level. The level of Zinc was over 174 its normal level in both media (Dickenson, 2011). It was discussed that these levels were very detrimental to soil fertility and micro-organisms in the soil. Water is the major channel through which the electronic impurities settle in the soil (Grossman, 2006). In factories where the old electronic equipment is dismantled, traces of mercury, lead and zinc are covered in the dust. In the occurrence of sturdy wind or rain, the metals are carried into the water bodies (Yang et al, 2013). In the reverse occurrence, the water bodies may overflow on the soil surrounding them. The traces of these toxic metals quickly penetrate the soil and lie in wait for the next transmission (Elretur, 2010). This entire process through which the toxic heavy metal particles get into the soil is called leaching (Huang et al, 2014). Currently, studies from various environmental departments have indicated that almost 2.7 tones of waste from electronic equipment are produced on yearly basis. The report further offered that about 60% of the electronic waste is dumped in major cities of India (Elretur, 2010). However, the government has not taken any stern measures to avoid the leakage of toxic metals into the soil (Sauser et al, 2014). Some factories even perform open air burning of the equipment when retrieving valuable parts. As the smoke rises, it carries harmful gases which loosely hang in the sky and later washed away by the rain into the soil. A similar research was carried out at Mandoli. This was another electronic waste dumping site in India. In Mandoli, several soil samples were collected from the surface ground (Hosoda, 2007). Many samples were collected in the workshops where the dismantling of old electronic equipment takes place (Grossman, 2006). The dismantled equipment included electric wires and cables, electric motors and other aluminum apparatus (European Commission, 2011). These workshops had been using very crude method of dismantling the electronic waste. The samples were then tested for the presence of heavy metals. The results indicated that lead, mercury and copper were the most common heavy metals in the surface dust (Sauser et al, 2014). To further establish the impacts of these metals, farm soil samples in the surrounding were analyzed too. The result indicated that these toxic elements had polluted the farm soils (Elretur, 2010). The concentration of the metal traces was beyond the expected standards. The environmentalists also caution that open air burning of the electronic waste may as well result into adverse effects in soil. Scientists argue that gaseous emission from burning electronic waste pose a great threat to human and wildlife (Wu, 2012). Both plants and animals absorb the deadly gases. These toxic gases may stay in their bodies as long as they live. When the wild animals and plants die, the toxic electrons get into the soil through the process of decomposition. Besides, the ashes that remain after burning the equipment also bear the traces of heavy metals that mix with soil (European Commission, 2011). Electronic waste equipment has negative impacts on soil and environment as a whole. Soils in areas with heavy presence of electronic waste usually show signs of degradation. Dust from dumping sites at Loni and Mandoli sometimes pile up on the farm soil and interfere with its composition (Yuan et al, 2007). The traces from heavy metals always increase the percentage of the elements in soil, making it lose composition balance. For example, soil samples in India showed the level of Mercury was as high as 20 times the normal prescribed level while the level of Zinc in both water and soil was extremely high; over 174 its normal level (Dickenson, 2011). Among the heavy metals released from the electronic waste in India, Mercury is the most lethal element. It exists in different forms that bear varying levels of toxicity to soil and human beings. The utmost toxic and dangerous type of mercury is called Methyl Mercury (CH3Hg). Other mild forms of mercury bear low levels of toxicity to soil. Nonetheless, the excessive levels of mercury that leak into the soil during electronic waste dumping pose severe implications on soil and the living organisms therein (Yuan et al, 2007). Excessive amounts of Mercury in soil lead to death of micro-organisms. These organisms usually contribute to soil fertility through their metabolic processes. One example of an organism that lives in soil is the earthworm (Frazzoli, 2010). It usually digs and excretes in soil thereby making the manure. The by-products of the excretory and gaseous exchange usually enrich the soil fertility and longevity. Research has established that the presence of heavy metals such as mercury causes death and extinction of these beneficial organisms, leaving the soil barren and ragged (Frazzoli, 2010). The mercury is usually introduced into the soil as a contaminant from the surrounding environment. Soil contamination by Mercury and other impurities from the electronics was very common in the past. In the 1950s, the potential of mercury toxicity was found to be very high in most places Asia, including India (Pearson et al, 2003). Traces of mercury and other heavy metals were very profound in India during industrial revolution. In those years, the land was not quite favorable for farming (Frazzoli, 2010). When mercury gets into the soil, it does not only stay there; it is spread to other external parts of the environment such as water and air. Contaminated dust that is usually abundant in the electronic dumping sites is responsible for spreading the traces of mercury to the surrounding areas. The dust is carried away into water. While in water, this heavy metal and others such as zinc quickly dissolve to form strong alkali (Frazzoli, 2010). When the solution gets into the soil, it heightens the alkalinity hence imbalance (Grossman, 2006). The imbalance eventually reduces the soil quality and compatibility. High concentration mercury in soil also inhibits the soil nitrification. This means that the soil cannot get enough aeration (Wu, 2012). The toxic metal from the electronic dumping sites in India directly interferes with the gaseous cycle in the soil. It also kills the micro-organisms that help in carrying out air circulation. When there is no adequate nitrification the soil may not viable for any agricultural activity. This soil degradation also leads to the withering and death of vegetation in the affected areas (Yang et al, 2013). The government of India has recently formulated polices that govern the operations of factories that deal in electronic waste management. The 2011 policy puts responsibility on the producers of such electronic equipment. The State Pollution Control Board monitors the implementation of the regulations. Some factories have been closed down because of their inacceptable practices (Pearson et al, 2003). However, some critics have argued that the government should come up with lasting technological solution that will keep away soil pollution by the heavy metals from the electronics (Dickenson, 2011). If the Indian government does take urgent measures to curb this situation, the soil may lose its productivity, leading to an immense famine in India. Conclusion It is apparent that the electronic waste in India has not been properly managed. The tests revealed that the toxic metals and chemicals from the dumping sites have had adverse impacts on soil, a situation that may affect the entire life in India due to decreased productivity. Despite the policies designed to regulate the operations of the concerned factories, not much improvement has been observed. There is, therefore, a requirement to find a permanent solution to electronic waste management. Reference Borromeo, L. (2013). India’s E-Waste Burden: Environmental Journal. The Guardian.www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/india-it-electronic-waste Deccan Chronicle. (2014). India’s Capital Becoming World’s E-waste Dumping Yard. 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