Copper

yoke Plastic body Occupational and environmental hazards

PCB
MONITOR’S COMPONENTS
CRT (Cathode Ray Tube): Rs 500 ; When bro-
ken, glass and metal worth Rs 70 extracted
Copper yoke: Rs 85 per kg
Plastic body: Rs 22 per kg
Printed Circuit Board (PCB): Rs 80;
Metals: brass Rs 250 per kg, copper Rs 330
per kg and gold Rs 1,600

Lead: A neurotoxin that af-
fects the kidneys and the re-
productive system. High
quantities can be fatal. It af-
fects mental development in
Motherboard
children. Mechanical break-
MOTHERBOARD’S
ing of CRTs (cathode ray
COMPONENTS
tubes) and removing solder
Whole motherboard: Rs
200 (Pentium-I), from microchips release lead
Comb
growth and harms infants
through mother's milk. It is
released while breaking and
burning of circuit boards
and switches. Mercury in wa-
terbodies can form methy-
lated mercury through
microbial activity. Methy-
lated mercury is toxic

Rs 1,000 (Pentium-IV) as powder and fumes and can enter the human
CRT per gm
Damaged piece: Rs 100 food chain through aquatic
Plastics: Found in circuit lifeforms
Comb: Gold, Rs 1,600 boards, cabinets and cables,
per gm they contain carcinogens. Beryllium: Found in switch
BFRs or brominated flame boards and printed circuit
ANATOMY OF Gold-plated brass
pins: Smallest size Rs Gold plated
retardants give out carcino-
genic brominated dioxins
boards. It is a carcinogen
and causes lung diseases
A COMPUTER 335 per kg, medium Rs
435 and the biggest
Brass pin and furans. Dioxins can
harm reproductive and im- Cadmium: A carcinogen.
What’s inside. Rs 535 mune systems. Burning PVC, Long-term exposure causes
a component of plastics, also Itai-itai, which affects kid-
What it’s worth Green chip processor: produces dioxins. BFR can neys and softens bones. Cad-
Rs 4,000 per kg leach into mium is released into the
Green chips landfills. Even the dust on environment as powder
Black chip (graphics computer cabinets contains while crushing and milling
module, sound card BFR of plastics, CRTs and circuit
SMPS (switched attached on board): boards. Cadmium may be re-
mode power Rs 2,000 per kg
 supply): Rs 100; Chromium: Used to protect leased with dust, entering
SMPS metal housings and plates in surface water and ground-
Rs 45 if damaged Condensor: Rs 18 per kg
a computer from corrosion. water
Metals extracted from Black chip
Keyboard: Rs 40; Inhaling hexavalent
these components in-
 Rs 16 if damaged Hard drive: 40 GB for chromium or chromium 6 Acid: Sulphuric and hy-
Mouse clude aluminium,
Rs 1,200-1,400; can damage liver and kid- drochloric acids are used to
Mouse: Rs 10; Rs 40-50 if damaged copper, brass
neys and cause bronchial separate metals from circuit
Rs 2 per kg if and gold
maladies including asthmatic boards. Fumes contain chlo-
damaged CD drive: Rs 250-350;
bronchitis and lung cancer rine and sulphur dioxide,
Rs 12 if damaged
Condensor which cause respiratory
 Mercury: Damages brain and problems. They are corrosive
Keyboard
kidneys, impairs foetus to the eye and skin
CD drive
Hard drive

INFOGRAPHIC: VINITA VENUGOPAL / CSE