Your Cell Phone and the Environment

An astonishing number of people own and use apotentially begin underground fires when present
cell phone (celular), with current figures totalingin large quantities. Any of the hazardous or
over 800 million worldwide. It has has become anpoisonous substances could contaminate local
important part of daily life, and improves businesswater supplies or the nearby soil. If either of
and travel opportunities, whilst providing the bestthese is affected than the toxins enter the food
possible level of communication across the globe.chain with terrible results.
However, the high numbers of users are alsoIn effect, incorrect disposal of the cell phone
subject to changing trends for a number of(celular) can create a form of poisoning. The
reasons including improved features, fashion andimmediate effects include health problems such as
accessories. This means that upgrades are agenetic or reproductive defects and detrimental
regular occurrence, with each device being usedeffects upon the nervous system and delayed
for an estimated 12 to 18 months. This meansgeneral development. The long term effect is
that there is a lot of cell phone waste.global pollution. When waste that can not be
Many users are not aware of the potentialbroken down properly such as that in a cell phone
damage to the environment that incorrect(celular) is decomposing it creates methane gas.
disposal of cell phones (celular) can cause.Methane gas is more damaging than CO2 and so
Incorrect disposal means throwing any cell phonehas major impact on global warming. Not many
away, which is the typical fate assigned to anpeople realize that all this can be caused by
unwanted device. However, components within itdisposing it in an incorrect manner.
can have a terrible impact on the environmentThe best way to combat cell phone (celular)
and so need special disposal. All cell phonesdamage to the environment is to recycle it by
(celular) contain persistent metals which do notreturning it to a shop. This includes the
degrade in the environment. They also containaccessories also. Some shops will ensure the
bioaccumulative metals which become toxic overproduct is sent to developing countries for reuse.
period of time.Others will reclaim the metal parts to prevent
For instance, cadmium which is present in a cellthem going into a landfill. Some cell phone
phone (celular) is significant enough to causecompanies even make a charity donation for
damage in small doses. It is the seventh mostevery recycled device to encourage the practice.
harmful known chemical, and is capable of causingThe other possibility is that they will ensure the
cancer. Cell phones also contain lead which causesproduct is sent for proper disposal. This includes
liver damage in adults and neurologicaldisposal of hazardous materials.
development problems in children when enteredWhichever option is used, the positive side effect
into the bloodstream. Other hazardous substancesis that less hazardous waste goes into the
such as nickel and mercury provide further causeenvironment. Now that you know the facts,
for concern.make sure that you dispose of your cell phone
If not disposed of properly, the metals from the(celular) properly and remain environmentally
cell phone (celular) can leak into the environmentsound with this one simple gesture.
through corrosion and cause a series of problemsThis article is under GNU FDL license and can be
in the environment. If thrown away, it will go to adistributed without any previous authorization
landfill where it will remain. As many elements dofrom the author. However the author's name and
not decompose, the level of harmful toxinsall the URLs (links) mentioned in the article and
increases and so does the potential damage.biography must be kept.
Lithium can burn with water exposure, and so can