In 2006 the EU and Japan have taken measured to ban cell phones, containing hazardous metals, such as lead and chromium. This was meant to keep the polluting substances away from the waters, which, if polluted, could become a serious threat to human health.
A study by scientists from the University of California, Irvine, lead by Oladele Ogunseitan, states that those measures where not to fully prevent pollution from cell phones. After testing 34 different phones the study showed that due to leakage of such materials as zinc, copper antimony and nickel the phones could become a source of pollution, as reported by Environmental Science&Technology (vol. 41, p. 2572). This way the substances could leak into water supplies and would put human health at risk.
The scientists state that the recycling programmes do not help much either. Companies always find different ways to pass by laws and ship the cell phones overseas, where they are dumped.
The chief of the study concludes that everything what we know about the cell phones should be redesigned.
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