I need to read through the article at this URL: http://www.ee.washington.edu/cla
ID: 1923315 • Letter: I
Question
I need to read through the article at this URL:http://www.ee.washington.edu/class/215/2011aut/EE215/Outline_files/optiona_article.pdf
and answer some questions, but I'm having trouble even starting. Here are the questions:
What part of Waste Electronics Recycling in Figure 1 concerns you most? Why?
From the part of Waste Electronics Recycling process you chose in Question 1, what is the impact on humans? On ecosystems? (address air, water, or food quality as needed).
What do you think modern engineers producing these electronic technologies should do as an "ethical" response to the waste electronics recycling dilemma? Comment specifically on how far in scope engineers should go to limit the waste electronics recycling impact.
Big karma and lifesaver status for helpful answers to some of these. I suck at this type of assignment.
Explanation / Answer
1. in figure 1, it is a matter of opinion, but i think it is the air that is the biggest concern, while we can always filter or boil pollutants out of the water or earth, almost all of the shown pollutants will eventually make their way into the air, which everybody and everything will have to breath. 2. suspended lead and other substances in the air can lead to heavy metal poisoning, asthma, blood disorders, and heightened risks of cancer. also with air polution, the pollutants can travel for long distances, and become a problem with water and soil in random areas, destroying ecosystems in random areas making it an even bigger problem than water or soil pollution, which can be contained. 3. Engineers could find a way to recycle products in a way that does not have an end result as a polutant. instead of burning plastics, they could melt melt them inside areas with vents that filter out offensive things. then using some chemicals they can neutralize these bi-products and reuse the elements such as lead. it is simple to neutralize a chemical but the best you can do with an element like lead is either to contain, reuse, or dump, and we do not want to dump. when it comes to shredding (what causes dust in the air) they can either collect it,separate it, and only dump the non pollutant part, and reuse the rest, or they can form the dust into a solid and find a place to store it. How far should they go to limit pollutants? i do not think it should be done on an ethical level, fixing it a little bit, just so they can feel a little better, just isn't good enough, it should be an all or nothing attempt. I hope i helped, i am a chem/bio major, not an engineer.