Toxic materials in Mobile Phones

Harmful materials in Mobiles

Mobile phones contain many potentially toxic materials, which can leak out into the environment through landfill or incineration.

The responsible recycling of mobile phones can help to reduce the damage to the environment and human health caused by these toxic substances.

Toxic materials in mobile phones include:

 

Brominated Flame Retardants (BFRs)

BFRs are used to prevent fire, especially in circuit boards and plastic casing. They are known to build up in the environment. According to Greenpeace, traces of BFRs have been found in polar bears, whales, and human breast milk.

Long-term exposure may damage the nervous, reproductive, and endocrine systems.

BFRs are now banned in the manufacture of mobile phones under the RoHS Directive, but they may be present in phones manufactured before July 2006.

 

Cadmium

Cadmium is used extensively in batteries, including those of mobile phones. Long-term exposure to cadmium may damage bones and kidneys and cause lung cancer.

Cadmium is now banned in the manufacture of mobile phones under the RoHS Directive, but still present in phones manufactured before July 2006.

 

Lead

Lead is used in circuit boards and soldering, and is highly toxic to humans and the environment. It is now banned in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) under the RoHS Directive, but still present in phones manufactured before July 2006.

Lead is also banned from landfill sites in many developed countries, because of its high toxicity when burned or left to degrade in landfill.

 

Phthalates

Phthalates are used extensively in manufacturing processes, as they are used to soften PVC plastic. Greenpeace suggest that one of the most common phthalates is a known reproductive toxin. Phthalates have been banned from children’s toys since 2006.

 

Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)

PVC is a chlorinated plastic used in some electronic products and for insulation on wires and cables. It is used very extensively in modern manufacture, and when burned it produces highly toxic dioxins.

Various organisations have proposed full or partial bans on PVC’s use in the future, because of its toxicity to human health and the environment.