CRT Monitors

Cathode-Ray Tube (CRT) Monitors

With many heavy metals and carcinogens used in their construction, CRT Monitors are a major problem when it comes to recycling. Unless CRT's are properly recycled they can cause a major environmental hazard. As New Zealand is a signority of the Basel Convention and so we must ensure that all monitors are recycled in accordance with its statutes. Below are listed many of the materials found in CRT monitors and some of the environmental and health issues they pose.

Barium: Barium is used in the front panel of the CRT to protect users from radiation. Studies show that short-term exposure to barium can cause brain swelling, muscle weakness, and damage to the heart, liver and spleen.

Brominated Flame Retardants: Polybrominated Diphenylethers (PBDE) is frequently used as flame retardants and is likely an endocrine disrupter. Research has revealed that levels of PBDEs in human breast milk are doubling every five years. PBDEs, like many halogenated organics, reduce levels of the hormone thyroxin and can potentially harm a developing fetus. Thyroxin is an essential hormone needed to regulate the normal development of all animal species.

Cadmium: Cadmium is used in soldering, semiconductors, chip resistors, batteries, pigments, infra-red detectors, metal coatings, older CRTs, and plastics, it is also used as a plastic stabilizer. Cadmium accumulates in the human body and leads too problems in the kidneys, lungs, and liver. It is speculated that cadmium also can cause mutations and does harm fragile bones.

Copper: Copper is a very good conductor and often used as a copper beryllium alloy to strengthen connectors and plugs. Copper is highly toxic and dangerous to infants and people with metabolic disorders. Since many wires are made of copper people will often burn the insulation off of the wire to retrieve the copper. During this process the Brominated Flame Retardants (See BFRs) release hazardous waste.

Hexavalent Chromium/ Chromium VI: Chromium is used as a corrosive protection on untreated and galvanized steel plates, in printer drums, and it is used for a hardener for steel housings. Chromium is extremely toxic for the environment. Chromium also causes asthmatic bronchitis and damages DNA in humans.

Lead: Lead is used in Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) displays, soldering, and circuit boards. CRT monitors contain between one and four kilograms of lead. Lead has also been found to leach into groundwater from landfills and eventually into our drinking water. Lead effects the human endocrine system and children's brain development; as well as, damaging the central and peripheral nervous system, blood systems, kidney, and reproductive systems. Because of the amount of lead in CRTs some states have banned the dumping of CRTs into landfills.

Mercury: Mercury is found in batteries, circuit boards, sensors, switches, cell phones, and flat panel monitors. Mercury can damage various organs including the brain, kidneys, and the fetus, it also attacks the central nervous system and endocrine system as well as the mouth, teeth, and gums. Possible signs of mercury poisoning include weakness, loss of appetite, insomnia, discoloration of the gums, and tremors in the fingers.

Phosphor: Phosphor is applied as a coat to the interior of the CRT face plate, this affects the resolution and luminance of the monitors image. The phosphor coating contains metals such as cadmium, zinc, and others, it is extremely toxic and should never to be touched.

Plastics: Plastics make up to 6.3 kilograms of an average computer. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) makes up the bulk of the plastic used in computers at approximately twenty-six percent. PVC is used in cabling and computer housings and is used because of its fire-retardant properties; however, dioxin forms when PVC is burned at specific temperatures. Other plastics contained in computers contain Brominated flame retardants (See BFRs).