Arsenic in electronics, printers, etc

Originally Posted by armygreywolf

What I'm saying is hold the phone guys because what the yard said or what they were told is not actually true. NewAttitude's yard believes it to be and hey who knows state department of natural resources might have done an inspection and found asbestos or lead or whatever in the pile, or coming through the shredder. .

This is blatant speculation on my part but i wonder if they got arsenic confused with chromium. I was doing some research about on the job hazards and ran across something about the little SMD's that have two legs on one side and one on the other. Supposedly, one state EPA was raising this as an issue. If the electronics are stored outdoors and the boards degrade then chromium could be released into the soil.

I suppose it would be a similar hazard if you were running the boards through a shredder but the dust would be airborne. ?

Originally Posted by Scrappah

This is blatant speculation on my part but i wonder if they got arsenic confused with chromium. I was doing some research about on the job hazards and ran across something about the little SMD's that have two legs on one side and one on the other. Supposedly, one state EPA was raising this as an issue. If the electronics are stored outdoors and the boards degrade then chromium could be released into the soil.

I suppose it would be a similar hazard if you were running the boards through a shredder but the dust would be airborne. ?

Yes, boards going through a shredder leave all kinds of particulates in the air, lead included in some cases, none of which you really want in your lungs but at the same time, not much in them that is potentially dangerous. We know there are legitimate dangers in the microwave magnetron, old ballasts and transformer oil from the 60s and 70s. We know about leaded glass, and early design LCD screens, fluorescent lights and backlights with trace mercury vapor. There are hazards to the e waste industry absolutely but knowing what your dealing with is 99% of the battle to keep yourself safe and the environment healthy.