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Dear
Panditji,
I’m doing a research for a school assignment and I am researching on
e-waste and the impact it has on our environment. Can you give me
some of the bad impacts e-waste has on environment presently?
Concerned Student
PNG
Dear ‘concerned student’,
I would first of all like to know your name. Do e-mail it to me!
Here goes your answer… Electronic waste is harmful mainly due to the
toxicity of some of the materials that are not processed properly.
Uncontrolled burning and disposal cause environmental problems.
Approximately 38 separate chemical elements are used in electronic
waste items. Some major toxics are lead, mercury, cadmium and
arsenic. Some naturally occurring substances, such as chromium, are
harmless in nature. But, their use in the manufacture of electronic
equipment often results in compounds that are hazardous!
E-waste is usually disposed in landfills, incinerators (where
e-waste is burnt) or recycled or reused. In landfills, chemicals
from e-waste gradually leach into the soil and often pollute
groundwater. In incinerators toxic gases like dioxins are released
into the air. This can cause diseases like silicosis, respiratory
problems, and even death due to exposure to toxic metals like lead!
You may also check out the Open Forum story on e-waste of the
November 30, 2005 issue of Gobar Times.
Dear Panditji,
Biodiversity is a boon and important for us but
population influx is curse, why?
Pawan K. Bharti
Jamaalpur Maan,Bijnore (UP)
 Dear Pawan K. Bharti ji,
Biodiversity is the variety of all living beings. Population influx,
on the other hand, is the mass arrival of foreign (non-native)
species.
Each species has at least one function in an ecosystem that is
necessary for its sustenance. Biodiversity ensures that all the
functions are properly performed, and thus, maintains the ecological
balance.
But, when population influx happens in an ecosystem, the ecological
balance gets disrupted. The endemic (native) species of the
ecosystem, which do not evolve to cope with the change, may not
survive. The new population may deprive the native species of
nutrients, water and light. This may damage the ecosystem.
Biodiversity is essential to maintain equilibrium in an ecosystem,
and population influx may completely destroy it.
See muck mail...
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