Essence of the Issue
A single component of e-waste, cathode ray tubes (CRT: See Image Right)-has emerged as the leading cause of the hazardous waste crisis at the local, state, national, and international level. CRT's are the glass "picture tubes" in television sets, computer monitors, and other video display devices that amplify and focus high-energy electric beams to create the images we ultimately see on our screens. In order to protect consumers from radiation dangers, the glass in CRT's contains lead. Lead composes approximately 20% of each CRT which equates to approximately 4 to 8 pounds per unit.
Lead is an extremely toxic metal, exposure to which poses serious public health and safety risks. Human and animal exposure to lead can cause damage to the central nervous system, blood system, and is demonstrated to have serious negative effects on the brain development of children. Given these essential issues, the proper disposal of e-waste has become a paramount concern for legislators, environmentalists, and the general public at large.
