Thailand Detox

Dangerous Mercury and Lead in Electronics

There is so much new technology in our society that it is hard to keep track of and more are coming out every month. In the recent past, it was a big deal to have a color TV. Now the average home has several HDTVs, DVD players, computers and a few different gaming systems. Everyone wants to have the newest and most advanced technology so we end up disposing of our old electronics to make room for the new and improved ones.

It can be difficult to safely dispose of electronics. Usually people throw their old electronics in the trash can and they are taken to the landfill. This creates a dangerous situation. Electronics of all sizes are full of mercury and lead so putting them in the landfill can be dangerous to the environment.

Mercury is a very dangerous metal even in small doses. Exposure to large amounts can be fatal, and exposure to even small amounts of the chemical can lead to kidney damage, liver damage, immune system problems and damage to the nervous system. Pregnant women should never be exposed to mercury because it can harm the baby. There is mercury in many electronic parts including LCD displays, batteries, switches and circuit boards.

Lead, on the other hand, can cause problems with the development of a child’s brain. It is also linked to kidney damage, damage to the nervous system and reproductive problems. There is lead in most televisions and in many computer monitors. There can be up to 8 pounds of lead in a television or computer monitor. Circuit boards and batteries also contain lead but in smaller amounts.

How to Prevent Mercury and Lead from Getting Into Landfills

There is not likely going to be a decrease of electronics being thrown out for new, more advanced items anytime soon. That doesn’t mean we have to keep filling the landfills up with our old electronics. Many of the items otherwise thrown away can be reused or possibly recycled if they no longer work properly.

Instead of throwing out your old computer, you can simply upgrade your machine to include new technology. The problem is that not all computer manufacturers produce computers that are easily upgraded. Often, they make it hard to upgrade their machines so consumers will have to buy a new one. Consider this when you are thinking about getting a brand new computer and make sure your new machine is easily upgradable.

Your old electronics can be very useful at schools, churches and for the less fortunate. You can find many organizations and schools that are willing to take your old electronics to use in their facilities and you can get a tax write off for donating your old electronics. You are doing good for others and the environment because you are extending the life your electronics and keeping them out of landfills.

If you have electronics that are no longer any good, you should recycle them instead of throwing them in the trash. You may have to do a little searching to find a place that recycles electronics but it is worth it to protect the environment. Another option may be to return the equipment to the manufacturer if you were able to lease it instead of buy it.

The increased levels of mercury and lead that are filling up our landfills are a dangerous trend. If we all were more responsible with how we got rid of old electronics, it would make a big difference to our environment and health.

Tags: Advanced Technology, Batteries, Color Tv, Computer Monitor, Dangerous Situation, Dvd Players, Gaming Systems, Hdtvs, Health Food, Healthy Eating, Immune System Problems, Kidney Damage, Landfill, Landfills, Liver Damage, Mercury, mercury & lead poisoning, Mercury Parts, Nervous System, New Technology, Old Computer, Pregnant Women, Switches, Televisions

Your Health and Hazardous Waste

You probably don’t give hazardous waste a second thought most days but chances are you encounter it in some form almost daily. You probably encounter some sort of cleaning products daily in your home or at work and these can contain dangerous chemicals. The electronics we use every day are full of mercury and lead. The fuel you put in your car is full of hazardous chemicals. When these products are thrown out, they become part of the hazardous waste problem.

Hazardous waste has four main characteristics:

1. It is corrosive. That means it is capable of destroying some other materials. For example, very acidic or alkaline liquids can burn through metals and your skin and the vapors can damage your mucus membranes.
2. It is ignitable. That means it catches fire easily, which makes for a dangerous situation. This often goes along with being an irritant. Some examples are varnish and gasoline.
3. It is reactive. That means it has the potential to react dangerously with other chemicals. The reaction could be an explosion or dangerous fume production. Bleach and ammonia are two reactive products.
4. It is toxic. This means it is poisonous. If you breathe, inhale, drink or even touch these chemicals, you can be severely injured. An example of a toxic material is a pesticide.

The characteristics of hazardous waste and their health issues refer to the effects that happen right away with exposure. Other kinds of exposure occur when hazardous waste is filtrated into our water or into the earth. This can affect the food supply, which is very dangerous. If people are exposed to even tiny amounts of these chemicals in this way over many years, there can cause serious health issues.

Lead paint was a common form of hazardous waste that used to be in many homes. The paint would chip and children would ingest the paint chips. If this happened on a long term basis, the children often suffered physical and mental problems as a result. Lead poisoning is linked to ADHD, kidney problems, reproduction issues, neurological problems and hearing issues.

There are other forms of hazardous waste that are just as dangerous to our health. One example you have probably heard of is asbestos, which is linked to cancer. Other forms of hazardous waste cause a variety of health problems including liver problems and can affect the immune system. There are close to 100,000 chemicals that we know of that are used frequently all over the world so it is nearly impossible to avoid exposure.

Hazardous waste can be very damaging to the environment and to the health of people exposed to it. Proper disposal of hazardous waste is very important to lower these risks. We as a world need to try to produce less hazardous waste and properly dispose of the waste that is created so health problems do not result from exposure.

Tags: Dangerous Chemicals, dangerous chemicals in the home, Dangerous Situation, Food Supply, Hazardous Chemicals, Hazardous Waste, Health Food, Health Issues, Irritant, Kidney Problems, Lead Paint, lead poisoning, Mucus Membranes, Paint Chips, Reactive Products, Second Thought, Serious Health, Term Basis, Tiny Amounts, Toxic Material, Vapors, Varnish

Stop Sleepwalking Today

Sleepwalking is something that can be hard to deal with. You never know where you are going to go when you get out of bed in the middle of the night. It can be very dangerous for some people who have a lot of sleepwalking episodes. There is always the possibility of injury to yourself or someone else. The following tips can help you manage your sleepwalking and avoid getting into a dangerous situation.

When you suffer from sleepwalking, you find yourself doing everyday activities while you are actually asleep. You may walk around your house, cook a snack or a meal, or even drive your car, all while asleep. Sleepwalking doesn’t just occur during the dream cycle of sleep.

Many children who sleepwalk will outgrow the problem as they age. Generally, sleepwalking is more common among older children and it can last up to right before puberty. It is important that you take safety precautions like locking doors and windows and hiding or removing dangerous objects from the child’s reach.

Sometimes, even the best safety precautions won’t work because sleepwalkers can often do more complicated tasks like unlock doors while asleep and avoiding obstacles set up to keep them safe. You may notice that your child’s sleepwalking episodes occur around the same time every night. If this is true, you might want to wake your child up before the time he usually starts sleepwalking and not let him go back to sleep for awhile. This can be very tiring for you as the parent but it is better than having your child injure himself during a sleepwalking episode.

The idea that it is dangerous to wake up someone who is sleepwalking is really an old wives tale. You will not cause a heart attack or any other health problem if you wake up a sleepwalker but you may find that he feels less rested because his sleep is being disturbed.

Often, sleepwalking is simply a symptom of  a general lack of sleep. You can improve your sleep patterns by not drinking alcohol, not watching TV in the bedroom, avoiding caffeine in the evenings and trying to go to sleep the same time every night. If you have trouble falling asleep, try doing yoga or meditating before bedtime to help you relax. Increasing the amount of good sleep you get every night will have you feeling better all day long and hopefully, decrease your sleepwalking episodes.

You may be an adult who still sleepwalks and has since you were young. However, if you suddenly start sleepwalking as an adult, you need to go to your doctor for a check up to rule out a medical condition you might not be aware of. Asthma, heartburn, heart problems, seizure disorders, mental illness and sleep apnea are medical conditions that can cause you to sleepwalk.

You may never stop sleepwalking completely but hopefully if you educate yourself and try some new things, you can decrease the number of sleepwalking episodes you have. It’s worth it to make sure you and your loved ones are safe.

Tags: aerobic exercise, cleansing, Dangerous Objects, Dangerous Situation, Detoxification, Doors And Windows, Doors Windows, Dream Cycle, Drinking Alcohol, Everyday Activities, Fasting, fitness, Health Problem, healthy living, Heart Attack, Lack Of Sleep, Locking Doors, losing weight, Obstacles, Old Wives, Puberty, Safety Precautions, Sleep, Sleep Patterns, Sleepwalker, Sleepwalking, Snack, Watching Tv, Weight Loss