BPA · Eco-Chick

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Score one for PCs

by Katie Kish · 04/10/07

Health Hazards in Electronics:

· Some brominated flame retardants, used in circuit boards and plastic casings, do not break down easily and build up in the environment. Long-term exposure can lead to impaired learning and memory functions. They can also interfere with thyroid and oestrogen hormone systems and exposure in the womb has been linked to behavioural problems.
· As much as 1000 tonnes of a brominated flame retardant called TBBPA was used to manufacture 674 million mobile phones in 2004. This chemical has been linked to neurotoxicity.
· The cathode ray tubes (CTR) in monitors sold worldwide in 2002 contain approximately 10,000 tonnes of lead. Exposure to lead can cause intellectual impairment in children and can damage the nervous, blood and reproductive systems in adults.
· Cadmium, used in rechargeable computer batteries, contacts and switches and in older CRTs, can bioaccumulate in the environment and is highly toxic, primarily affecting the kidneys and bones.
· Mercury, used in lighting devices for flat screen displays can damage the brain and central nervous system, particularly during early development.
· Compounds of hexavalent chromium, used in the production of metal housings, are highly toxic and human carcinogens.
· Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a chlorinated plastic used in some electronics products and for insulation on wires and cables. Chlorinated dioxins and furans are released when PVC is produced or disposed of by incineration (or simply burning). These chemicals are highly persistent in the environment and many are toxic even in very low concentrations.

Greenpeace has an extremely informative section on their website about electronics. Recently they have released their third discussion and break down on where companies stack up in regards to being green. I always knew there was another better reason as to why I haven’t liked using macs…

adults, batteries, BPA, car, children, Dioxin, electronics, estrogen, fur, health, kidney, Lighting, plastic, produce, Recycling, resources, spa, Target, waste

Stevie Dearest, I'm Moving In.

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by Summer Rayne Oakes · 09/11/06

Believe me, I’m not giving up my nomadic ways quite yet, but if I had to live somewhere…well, I would just move in with Steve Glenn. Steve is the founder and CEO of Living Homes. Congratulations to him because he has created the country’s first “platinum” status for a home (under LEED). Just in case you were curious, he lives in Santa Monica, which by the way, has a lot of cool green stuff going on.

Click on his webpage. You’ll find some great time lapse video of his house being built. Also, head over to The Lazy Environmentalist and hear his interview with Josh Dorfman. Speaking of that, tune into Dorfman’s latest venture of MODERN GREEN LIVING. It’s going to be one kick-ass directory of sustainable living for the home.