Digital Story

FYS DS on Prezi

What's in your computer?

Hexavalent Chromium

1. Where and how is it mined?

It is mined by underground and open pit mining methods.
It is mined in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Finland, India, Kazchistan, and the Phillipines.
It is mined as Chromites

2. What is the environmental impact of the mining? Is it regulated? If so, by whom?

It contaminates water and soil resources and is diposited into many water sources. Deposited into the air, affecting the growth of trees and forests.
Regulated by the OSHA. OSHa set exposure limit to 5mg/m^3.

3. What are the human health concerns when used to manufacture consumer electronics?
4. What documented health impacts are associated with its demanufacturing?

--> 3&4, Inhaling increases risk of lung cancer and damage to the nose, throat and respiratory system. Damages dna. Can cause asthmatic bronchitis and dermatitis. Causes brain damage.

WebLog 12

I choose to take no action. I choose this because I currently use mostly all Apple products, and after reading their website, it turns out they are trying their best to make their products more environment friendly already. First, through manufacturing they are working to make their products "smaller, thinner and lighter". Through this they are able to use less material which helps "generate less carbon emissions." Apple is also working on "reducing or eliminating environmentally harmful substances." Each and every product they sell no longer has brominated flame retardants, elemental bromine and chlorine. Also, every type of display they make "features mercury-free LED backlighting and arsenic-free glass." Another way they have tried to make things greener is buy creating smaller packaging. This "reduces materials and waste” and "helps reduce the emissions produced during transportation". Apple is also working to make their products more energy efficient. According to the website "Apple product not only meets but exceeds the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s strict ENERGY STAR guidelines." (There is a graph at the end comparing the energy used by their products compared to other common household products.) One of the most important parts is how they recycle their products. The products that they make, as mentioned earlier, use less materials, which lead to less needing to be recycled. Out of the materials that are being used, they are all "reclaimed by recyclers for use in new products." Even their packaging can be recycled. Also, their products are made to last. I can personally defend this because I had the same Mac computer for over 4 years. I just recently got a new one, but that was only because my roommate spilled water on mine and broke it. If it wasn't for that I would be going on 5 years with the same computer. I have never had any other computer last as long. They also recycle their materials very well. Nothing is shipped overseas to be recycled; it is all recycled where it is produced. Their goal for 2010 was to recycle up to 70% of their products, and they achieved that. After doing all of the research on Apple, I assume other companies are making efforts to try to be more green also. I do not support these other companies either by not buying their products, there for I do not feel it is necessary for me to complain to them.
http://www.apple.com/environment/