Environmental effects of cell phones

No proper disposal of cell phones
According to Worldwatch Institute, users discard cell phones after an average that is less than a year. The environmental protection agencies observe that lead, mercury and cadmium found in personal electronic devices such as mobile phones can "release dangerous toxins into our air and water when burned or deposited in landfills improperly." In these situations, there can be significant environmental impact. Many agencies worldwide report that ecosystems near point sources of lead often demonstrate biodiversity loss, decreased growth and reproductive rates, and neurological effects in vertebrates.



Toxic Impact On Humans

The Environmental Protection Agency also notes the environmental hazards posed by discarded cell phone components where electronic waste finally comes to rest. According to the EPA, lead taken into the body through the air, through contaminated groundwater or lead-contaminated food can accumulate in human bones. It can adversely affect "the nervous system, kidney function, immune system, reproductive and developmental systems, and the cardiovascular system." It can cause significant risk to young children even at low levels; exposure to infants and young children can contribute to learning deficits and lowered IQ.

Fact:Recycling 100 million cell phones can save enough energy to power 18,500 homes in the U.S. for a year.
               So why should we not recycle?

Cell phones pose a serious burden on the environment, gobbling up power and precious materials before heading to landfill. 

How Much Power Do Cell Phones Use?

Phones and their batteries are getting more efficient. But charging them still sucks a lot of electricity from the grid. Last year, one researcher estimated that each charger uses around 0.01-0.05 kWh per day; over a year, that's the equivalent of a skipping a single bath (5 kWh per person), or driving 6 minutes less annually (average driver being 40 kWh per day).

We've just entered the era of solar-powered phones, but until the technology gets more efficient, it's unclear if such phones are sustainable.

Possible Dangers of Cell Phone Towers

The possible dangers of cell phone towers are wide-reaching and numerous. The chronic exposure to cellular radiation has some harmful effects as well. And the health effects are not only restricted to humans. A study conducted by the Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmacy of the Veterinary School of Hanover (Germany) found that dairy cows were effected by their proximity to cell phone tower sites. The cows had reduced milk production and increased behavioral abnormalities. 

In September of 2010, the environment ministry of India established a 10-member committee under Bombay Natural History Society to study the impact of cellphone towers on birds and bees. The group of experts reviewed 919 studies performed in India and abroad regarding the effects of cellphone towers on birds, insects, animals, wildlife, and humans. The study showed the negative impact of mobile towers on birds, bees, humans, wildlife and plants . The experts even cited an international study that pinpointed cellphone towers as a potential cause in the decline of animal populations . They went on to say that there was an urgent need to focus more scientific attention on the subject before it was too  late.

But there can be issues even with shorter structures where there are large concentrations of birds, especially in bad weather. Most of the birds that migrate by dark fly at heights of 500 to 3,000 feet, making a collision with the tower unlikely, but strong headwinds and poor weather can cause the birds to fly at lower altitudes that could put them on a collision course with the cell phone towers. Thousands of migrating birds perish due to the collision.