Electronic waste contains carcinogens, according to research from Örebro University and others. The chemicals in the waste can cause hormone disruption and inflammation in human cells.
There is still limited research on how plastics and other materials in waste affect health and the environment. Researchers at Linköping University, Örebro University and the RISE research institute have investigated how chemicals from plastic in electronic waste affect human cells. They used the technique of “cell painting”, where different parts of cells were stained with fluorescent markers.
– Using advanced microscopy, we can take thousands of images of a cell and compare it to a cell exposed to chemicals from e-waste. We also perform image analysis using CellProfiler software, which detects cellular changes that are too subtle for the human eye, says Andi Alijagic in a press release.
The study, published in Environmental Research, shows that electronic waste contains a mix of hazardous chemicals. The researchers found polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organophosphates and phthalates – substances that are already known to have harmful effects on health. PAHs contain carcinogens, for example.
Exposure to these chemicals was found to cause inflammatory reactions in cells, a process that often underlies various diseases. The researchers also noted that the chemicals affected hormone signaling, which can have negative effects on reproductive health in both women and men.
The researchers emphasize that the chemicals must be managed during recycling to prevent their release into the environment.
– We throw away huge amounts of electronics every day, and the chemicals could affect human health if they end up in soil and water, says Alijagic.
