Okechukwu Ezema

Heavy Metals in Computer Wastes: Sampling, Methods, Analysis Okechukwu Ezema

The Computer industry is among the top world?s largest and fastest growing industries. This has led to the massive generation of computer electronic wastes. Heavy metals are the major components of computer and are potentially toxic to human life,other living resources and the environment, especially when present in high concentrations. It became necessary to determine the levels of heavy metals found in these electronic wastes which often are littered in streets and dump-sites within Nigeria. The levels of Chromium and Copper contained in cathode ray tubes,and printed wiring boards in waste personal computers were determined. In the whole analysis,products from 40 different manufacturers were sampled mainly from Idea-Consult,a major computer dealer in, Nigeria;while others were obtained from waste dump-sites and computer repairers. The metal concentrations of the pooled samples ranged from background levels to levels that suggested gross contamination. The analysis should help shed great light on the dangers of inappropriate disposal of e-wastes and induce the government towards developing environmental protection policies,while it provides awesome opportunity for recycling companies.