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Title: Toxicity potentials from waste cellular phones, and a waste management policy integrating consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities

Abstract

Cellular phones have high environmental impact potentials because of their heavy metal content and current consumer attitudes toward purchasing new phones with higher functionality and neglecting to return waste phones into proper take-back systems. This study evaluates human health and ecological toxicity potentials from waste cellular phones; highlights consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities for effective waste management; and identifies key elements needed for an effective waste management strategy. The toxicity potentials are evaluated by using heavy metal content, respective characterization factors, and a pathway and impact model for heavy metals that considers end-of-life disposal in landfills or by incineration. Cancer potentials derive primarily from Pb and As; non-cancer potentials primarily from Cu and Pb; and ecotoxicity potentials primarily from Cu and Hg. These results are not completely in agreement with previous work in which leachability thresholds were the metric used to establish priority, thereby indicating the need for multiple or revised metrics. The triple bottom line of consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities is emphasized in terms of consumer attitudes, design for environment (DfE), and establishment and implementation of waste management systems including recycling streams, respectively. The key strategic elements for effective waste management include environmental taxation and a deposit-refund systemmore » to motivate consumer responsibility, which is linked and integrated with corporate and government responsibilities. The results of this study can contribute to DfE and waste management policy for cellular phones.« less

Authors:
 [1]
  1. Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of California, Davis, CA 95616 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
21418136
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Waste Management
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 30; Journal Issue: 8-9; Other Information: DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2010.04.005; PII: S0956-053X(10)00213-8; Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Journal ID: ISSN 0956-053X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; ARSENIC; COMBUSTION; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; HEAVY METALS; LEAD; NEOPLASMS; PUBLIC HEALTH; RECYCLING; SOLID WASTES; TELEPHONES; TOXICITY; WASTE MANAGEMENT; CHEMICAL REACTIONS; DISEASES; ELEMENTS; MANAGEMENT; METALS; OXIDATION; SEMIMETALS; THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES; WASTES

Citation Formats

Lim, Seong-Rin, and Schoenung, Julie M., E-mail: jmschoenung@ucdavis.ed. Toxicity potentials from waste cellular phones, and a waste management policy integrating consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities. United States: N. p., 2010. Web. doi:10.1016/j.wasman.2010.04.005.
Lim, Seong-Rin, & Schoenung, Julie M., E-mail: jmschoenung@ucdavis.ed. Toxicity potentials from waste cellular phones, and a waste management policy integrating consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.04.005
Lim, Seong-Rin, and Schoenung, Julie M., E-mail: jmschoenung@ucdavis.ed. 2010. "Toxicity potentials from waste cellular phones, and a waste management policy integrating consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2010.04.005.
@article{osti_21418136,
title = {Toxicity potentials from waste cellular phones, and a waste management policy integrating consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities},
author = {Lim, Seong-Rin and Schoenung, Julie M., E-mail: jmschoenung@ucdavis.ed},
abstractNote = {Cellular phones have high environmental impact potentials because of their heavy metal content and current consumer attitudes toward purchasing new phones with higher functionality and neglecting to return waste phones into proper take-back systems. This study evaluates human health and ecological toxicity potentials from waste cellular phones; highlights consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities for effective waste management; and identifies key elements needed for an effective waste management strategy. The toxicity potentials are evaluated by using heavy metal content, respective characterization factors, and a pathway and impact model for heavy metals that considers end-of-life disposal in landfills or by incineration. Cancer potentials derive primarily from Pb and As; non-cancer potentials primarily from Cu and Pb; and ecotoxicity potentials primarily from Cu and Hg. These results are not completely in agreement with previous work in which leachability thresholds were the metric used to establish priority, thereby indicating the need for multiple or revised metrics. The triple bottom line of consumer, corporate, and government responsibilities is emphasized in terms of consumer attitudes, design for environment (DfE), and establishment and implementation of waste management systems including recycling streams, respectively. The key strategic elements for effective waste management include environmental taxation and a deposit-refund system to motivate consumer responsibility, which is linked and integrated with corporate and government responsibilities. The results of this study can contribute to DfE and waste management policy for cellular phones.},
doi = {10.1016/j.wasman.2010.04.005},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/21418136}, journal = {Waste Management},
issn = {0956-053X},
number = 8-9,
volume = 30,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010},
month = {Sun Aug 15 00:00:00 EDT 2010}
}