Tuesday, May 20, 2014: NGO Toxics Link in its latest study report titled ‘Looking Through Glass-CRT Glass Recycling in India’ has shockingly revealed the state of affairs as far as the ill-effects of cathode ray tube monitors’ recycling is considered. The national capital among other things is faced with a major health risk with respect to the same even as LCDs and LEDs fast replace the traditional CRT monitors/TVs here.
CRT recycling has a huge market in Delhi with Yamuna Vihar, Amar Colony, Gokulpuri, Mustafabad and Meet Nagar being major hubs for the same. Once refurbished, these are sold to electronic vendors in Lajpat Nagar and Nehru Place following which they are used in the manufacture of local branded TVs and video game screens. CRTs contain large amounts of heavy metals like lead and barium as well as phosphor: that combine to form an extremely hazardous e-waste. The study reveals that the lead content in each CRT may add up to as much as 1.5-2kg. Improper recycling practices of the leaded CRT glass is therefore a growing concern. When dumped in landfills, the CRT glass leachate percolates into the soil and groundwater effecting the same, while hammering it to finer pieces pollutes the air.
“The CRT market is dwindling and still the imports are not receding. This clearly indicates that countries are dumping used CRTs in India. If this continues, our country will be saddled with a huge amount of toxic leaded glass,” Satish Sinha, associate director at Toxics Link was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Health risks vary depending on the level of exposure. Delayed mental and physical development, learning deficiencies, kidney damage, hearing problems, delayed puberty, decreased coordination and shortened attention plan are some of the health risks with effects being more pronounced among children aged 0-6 years.
