DoomsdaysCW<p>The smoke from <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Canada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Canada</span></a>’s <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wildfires" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>wildfires</span></a> may be even more <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/toxic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>toxic</span></a> than usual</p><p>A legacy of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/mining" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>mining</span></a> means that <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ToxicMetals" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ToxicMetals</span></a> could be carried along plumes of smoke. </p><p>by Matt Simon, June 5, 2025</p><p>"More than 200 wildfires are blazing across central and western Canada, half of which are out of control because they’re so hard for crews to access, forcing 27,000 people to evacuate. Even those nowhere near the wildfires are suffering as smoke swirls around Canada and wafts south, creating hazardous air quality all over the midwestern and eastern parts of the United States. The smoke is even reaching Europe.</p><p>"As the climate changes, the far north is drying and warming, which means wildfires are getting bigger and more intense. The area burned in Canada is now the second largest on record for this time of year, trailing behind the brutal wildfire season of 2023. That year, the amount of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/carbon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>carbon</span></a> blazed into the atmosphere was about three times the country’s <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FossilFuel" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FossilFuel</span></a> emissions. And the more carbon that’s emitted from wildfires — in Canada and elsewhere — the faster the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PlanetaryWarming" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PlanetaryWarming</span></a>, and the worse the fires. </p><p>" 'There’s obviously the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateFeedback" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateFeedback</span></a> concern,' said Mike Waddington, an environmental scientist at McMaster University in Ontario who studies Canada’s forests. 'But increasingly we’re also concerned about the smoke.'</p><p>"That’s because there’s much more to wildfire smoke than charred sticks and leaves, especially where these blazes are burning in Canada. The country’s <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/forests" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>forests</span></a> have long been <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/mined" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>mined</span></a>, operations that loaded <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/soils" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>soils</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/waterways" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>waterways</span></a> with <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ToxicMetals" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ToxicMetals</span></a> like <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/lead" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lead</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/mercury" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>mercury</span></a>, especially before clean-air standards kicked in 50 years ago. Now everyone downwind of these wildfires may have to contend with that legacy and those pollutants, in addition to all the other nasties inherent in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WildfireSmoke" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WildfireSmoke</span></a>, which are known to exacerbate respiratory and cardiac problems. </p><p>" 'You have there the burning of these organic soils resulting in a lot of carbon and a lot of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ParticulateMatter" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ParticulateMatter</span></a>,' said Waddington. 'Now you have this triple whammy, where you have the metals <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/remobilized" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>remobilized</span></a> in addition to that.'</p><p>"What exactly is lurking in the smoke from Canadian wildfires will require further testing by scientists. But an area of particular concern is around the mining city of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FlinFlon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FlinFlon</span></a>, in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ManitobaCanada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ManitobaCanada</span></a>, which is known to have elevated levels of toxic metals in the landscape, said Colin McCarter, an environmental scientist who studies pollutants at Ontario’s <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NipissingUniversity" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NipissingUniversity</span></a>. Flin Flon’s 5,000 residents have been evacuated as a wildfire approaches, though so far no structures have been destroyed. </p><p>"But a fire doesn’t need to directly burn mining operations to mobilize toxicants. For example, in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Yellowknife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Yellowknife</span></a>, in Canada’s <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/NorthwestTerritories" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NorthwestTerritories</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/GoldMining" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GoldMining</span></a> operations between 1934 and 2004 spread <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/arsenic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>arsenic</span></a> as far as 18 miles away, adding to a landscape with an already high concentration of naturally occurring arsenic. In a paper published last year, Waddington and McCarter estimated that between 1972 and 2023, wildfires around Yellowknife fired up to 840,000 pounds of arsenic into the atmosphere. Arsenic is a known carcinogen associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and developmental problems, according to the World Health Organization. (After the 2023 <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/LahainaFire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LahainaFire</span></a> in Maui, officials reported elevated levels of arsenic, lead, and other toxic substances in ash samples. California officials also found lots of lead in smoke from 2018’s <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CampFire" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CampFire</span></a>.)"</p><p>Source:<br><a href="https://grist.org/climate/canada-wildfire-smoke-toxic-arsenic/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="ellipsis">grist.org/climate/canada-wildf</span><span class="invisible">ire-smoke-toxic-arsenic/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SoilIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AirIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AirIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Mining" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Mining</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ToxicLegacy" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ToxicLegacy</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/FirstNations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>FirstNations</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Canada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Canada</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Pollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Pollution</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Worldwide" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Worldwide</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AQI" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AQI</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateChange" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateChange</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateCrisis" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateCrisis</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ClimateCatastrophe" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ClimateCatastrophe</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AirQualityIndex" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AirQualityIndex</span></a></p>
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DoomsdaysCW<p>ICYMI - From 2017</p><p>Levels of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EWaste" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EWaste</span></a> soar in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Asia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Asia</span></a> as gadgets become affordable, UN says</p><p>Amount of electronic waste up 63% in five years, with China’s more than doubling, United Nations University report finds</p><p>Agence France-Presse<br>Sun 15 Jan 2017 11.29 EST</p><p>"Levels of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ElectronicWaste" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ElectronicWaste</span></a> are rising sharply across <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Asia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Asia</span></a>, as higher incomes mean hundreds of millions of people can afford <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/smartphones" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>smartphones</span></a> and other <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/gadgets" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>gadgets</span></a>, according to a UN study.</p><p>"The amount of e-waste in Asia has risen by 63% in five years, a report by United Nations University said, warning of the need to improve <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/recycling" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>recycling</span></a> and disposal methods across the region to prevent serious <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>environmental</span></a> and health consequences.</p><p>"Ruediger Kuehr, the report’s co-author and head of UNU’s sustainable cycles programme, said: 'For many countries that already lack infrastructure for environmentally sound e-waste management, the increasing volumes are a cause for concern.'</p><p>"For many years, China and other Asian countries have recycled discarded electronics from wealthier countries in rudimentary and often unsafe factories. </p><p>"But the report said Asia has become a major source of e-waste due to increasingly affluent <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/consumers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>consumers</span></a> buying electronic items including <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/phones" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>phones</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/tablets" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>tablets</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/refrigerators" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>refrigerators</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/computers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>computers</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/televisions" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>televisions</span></a>.</p><p>"China’s generation of e-waste more than doubled between 2010 and 2015, the period of the study, according to the report.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HongKong" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>HongKong</span></a> generated the highest amount of e-waste in Asia in 2015, an average of 21.7kg (3.4st) per person.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Singapore" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Singapore</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Taiwan" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Taiwan</span></a> created just over 19kg per person in 2015.</p><p>"<a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Cambodia" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Cambodia</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Vietnam" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Vietnam</span></a> and the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Philippines" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Philippines</span></a> were among the lowest e-waste generators, with an average of about 1kg per person."</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/15/electronic-e-waste-levels-soar-asia-gadgets-united-nations-university-report" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">theguardian.com/environment/20</span><span class="invisible">17/jan/15/electronic-e-waste-levels-soar-asia-gadgets-united-nations-university-report</span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Consumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Consumerism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Capitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Capitalism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Crapitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Crapitalism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PlannedObsolescence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PlannedObsolescence</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SupportLegacyProducts" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SupportLegacyProducts</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Landfills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Landfills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RightToRepair" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RightToRepair</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalRacism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalRacism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SoilIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RepairReuseRecycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RepairReuseRecycle</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Consumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Consumerism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Anticonsumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Anticonsumerism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalPollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalPollution</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>ICYMI - From 2016</p><p>The Burning Truth Behind an <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EWasteDump" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EWasteDump</span></a> in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Africa" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Africa</span></a></p><p>Ending the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/toxic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>toxic</span></a> smoke rising from an iconic dump in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Ghana" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Ghana</span></a> will take more than curbing Western waste </p><p>by Adam Minter<br>January 13, 2016 </p><p>"They are some of the most iconic photos in environmental journalism: young African men, often shirtless, standing over small fires fueled by digital detritus imported from richer countries. The toxic smoke swirls around them and over <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Agbogbloshie" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Agbogbloshie</span></a>, the roughly 20-acre scrap yard in the heart of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/AccraGhana" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>AccraGhana</span></a>, where these men live and work.</p><p>"During the last decade, some of the world’s most respected media organizations have transformed Agbogbloshie into a symbol of what’s believed to be a growing crisis: the export—or dumping—of electronic waste from rich, developed countries into Africa. It’s a concise narrative that resonates strongly in a technology-obsessed world. There’s just one problem: The story is not that simple..."</p><p>Read more:<br><a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/burning-truth-behind-e-waste-dump-africa-180957597/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">smithsonianmag.com/science-nat</span><span class="invisible">ure/burning-truth-behind-e-waste-dump-africa-180957597/</span></a></p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ElectronicWaste" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ElectronicWaste</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SupportLegacyProducts" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SupportLegacyProducts</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Consumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Consumerism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Capitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Capitalism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Crapitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Crapitalism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/CorporateColonialism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CorporateColonialism</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PlannedObsolescence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PlannedObsolescence</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Landfills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Landfills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RightToRepair" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RightToRepair</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalRacism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalRacism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SoilIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RepairReuseRecycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RepairReuseRecycle</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Consumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Consumerism</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Anticonsumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Anticonsumerism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalPollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalPollution</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>How Soaring E-Waste Pollution Is Putting Lives at Risk</p><p>by April Miller<br>Mar 3rd 2022</p><p>The Growing Amount of E Waste Pollution</p><p>"The proper disposal of electronics is a heated topic in the minds of those looking to live more sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint. As more devices come out each year, it only adds to the amount of e-waste generated. Consider how <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Apple" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Apple</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Huawei" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Huawei</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Samsung" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Samsung</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Google" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Google</span></a> and other companies release several new phone models annually. Older models then become <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/obsolete" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>obsolete</span></a> and must be disposed of properly.</p><p>"Statista reports that the amount of e-waste generated worldwide was around 54 million metric tons in 2019. Due to increased spending power and the wide availability of electronics, e-waste is becoming the fastest-growing waste stream worldwide. It’s estimated that generation will increase by 30% by 2030. </p><p>"These figures make sense, considering how common it is for people to throw away small electronic devices along with their other trash. However, most are not aware of opportunities to recycle electronics, what environmental impact they’re making by throwing away e-waste or how much cash they can earn by selling it.</p><p>How E Waste Harms the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Environment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Environment</span></a> and Our <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Health" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Health</span></a></p><p>"Why is e-waste becoming a more prevalent issue worldwide? <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ElectronicWaste" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ElectronicWaste</span></a> poses unique ecological concerns. Most e-waste contains <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/HazardousChemicals" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>HazardousChemicals</span></a>, and the manufacturing processes may also harm the <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environment" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>environment</span></a>.</p><p>"When e-waste ends up in a <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/landfill" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>landfill</span></a>, the surrounding <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/soil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>soil</span></a> can become <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/contaminated" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>contaminated</span></a> with <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/toxic" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>toxic</span></a> substances such as <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/mercury" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>mercury</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/cadmium" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cadmium</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/beryllium" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>beryllium</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/lead" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lead</span></a>. These chemicals enter the soil, waterways and air, leading to polluted environments and negatively impacting human and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/marine" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>marine</span></a> life.</p><p>"Consider people who use natural wells or the animals who rely on bodies of water. They could be exposed to toxic chemicals that can impact their health.</p><p>"It’s also important to note that when high volumes of e-waste enter landfills, device manufacturers must mine more materials to build new devices. <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Phones" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Phones</span></a> and other <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/electronics" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>electronics</span></a> contain small amounts of valuable metals like <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/gold" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>gold</span></a>, <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/silver" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>silver</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/palladium" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>palladium</span></a>, among other critical components. These materials are becoming harder to mine, especially with the increased demand for more electronic devices.</p><p>How E Waste Contributes to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Air" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Air</span></a> Pollution</p><p>One journal from Environmental Research Letters reported that researchers took air samples from a large e-waste disposal site in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/China" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>China</span></a> and found that the products in these landfills harmed human <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/lung" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>lung</span></a> cells.</p><p>"According to the World Health Organization (WHO), these are some adverse health effects caused by exposure to e-waste:</p><p>- Negative birth outcomes for expecting mothers, such as <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/stillbirth" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>stillbirth</span></a> or <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/premature" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>premature</span></a> birth<br>- Increased rates of <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ADHD" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ADHD</span></a> in young children<br>- Changes in lung function<br>- <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/DNA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>DNA</span></a> damage<br>- Respiratory issues<br>- Impaired thyroid function<br>- Increased risk of chronic diseases like <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/cancer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cancer</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/cardiovascular" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cardiovascular</span></a> disease</p><p>"Additionally, the WHO reports that appropriate collection and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/recycling" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>recycling</span></a> of e-waste can help protect the environment and human health.</p><p>"Global E-waste Statistics Partnership (GESP) found that 17.4% of e-waste that was collected appropriately prevented as much as 15 million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere. High levels of carbon dioxide entering the environment and therefore contributing to global warming make it clear that e-waste is a much larger issue than some believe it to be. It may seem easy to toss away old electronics in the trash, but doing so negatively affects the environment and can harm human health.</p><p>Recycling Electronics to Benefit Humans and the Environment</p><p>"More state and federal action is needed to reduce the negative impact e-waste has on humans and the environment. So far, around 25 US states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to establish an e-waste recycling programme. Additionally, several manufacturers offer some type of electronic return initiative, with some hosting or sponsoring recycling events for consumers. </p><p>"Many manufacturers have adopted more <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/sustainable" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>sustainable</span></a> business practices to prevent outdated devices from entering landfills. However, this can be challenging, considering how often users want to upgrade to the latest technology due to new features and designs. </p><p>Republicans and Democrats are pursuing laws that would make it easier for consumers to repair their devices, from vehicles to refrigerators to smartphones. This movement is being coined as the Right to Repair movement. Manufacturers often make it difficult for consumers to fix a wide range of products by limiting the availability of parts or limiting who can perform repairs. </p><p>The goal of the movement is to prohibit manufacturers from taking these measures. This can directly reduce the amount of e-waste entering landfills in the first place. Consumers would then be able to repair devices themselves, save money and avoid tossing obsolete products in the trash. </p><p>E-waste is a growing problem worldwide, and more emphasis should be put on the importance of recycling electronics. The benefits of recycling far outweigh the drawbacks. Governments, consumers and manufacturers need to find viable solutions to this prevalent issue. Whether it’s contaminated soil entering waterways or toxic chemicals released into the atmosphere, more work needs to be done to mitigate the negative effects e-waste causes."</p><p><a href="https://earth.org/e-waste-pollution/" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://</span><span class="">earth.org/e-waste-pollution/</span><span class="invisible"></span></a> </p><p><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ElectronicWaste" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ElectronicWaste</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SupportLegacyProducts" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SupportLegacyProducts</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Windows11" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Windows11</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Consumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Consumerism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Capitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Capitalism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Crapitalism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Crapitalism</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/PlannedObsolescence" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PlannedObsolescence</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Landfills" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Landfills</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RightToRepair" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RightToRepair</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalRacism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalRacism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SoilIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RightToRepair" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RightToRepair</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/RepairReuseRecycle" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>RepairReuseRecycle</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Consumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Consumerism</span></a><br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Anticonsumerism" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Anticonsumerism</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EnvironmentalPollution" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EnvironmentalPollution</span></a></p>
DoomsdaysCW<p>‘Disturbing’: <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/weedkiller" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>weedkiller</span></a> ingredient tied to <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/cancer" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>cancer</span></a> found in 80% of US urine samples</p><p>CDC study finds <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/glyphosate" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>glyphosate</span></a>, controversial ingredient found in weedkillers including popular <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Roundup" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Roundup</span></a> brand, present in samples</p><p>by Carey Gillam<br>Sat 9 Jul 2022 05.30 EDT</p><p>"The health impacts of glyphosate are disputed and the CDC report makes no observation about what the detected levels mean in terms of human health outcomes. However, its work comes at a time of mounting concerns and controversy over how <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/pesticides" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>pesticides</span></a> in <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/food" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>food</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/water" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>water</span></a> impact human and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/environmental" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>environmental</span></a> health.</p><p>"Both the amount and prevalence of glyphosate found in human urine has been rising steadily since the 1990s when <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Monsanto" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Monsanto</span></a> Co. introduced genetically engineered crops designed to be sprayed directly with Roundup, according to research published in 2017 by University of California San Diego School of Medicine researchers.</p><p>"Paul Mills, the lead researcher of that study, said at the time there was 'an urgent need' for a thorough examination of the impact on human health from glyphosate in foods people commonly consume.</p><p>"More than 200 million pounds of glyphosate are used annually by <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/US" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>US</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/farmers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>farmers</span></a> on their fields. The weedkiller is sprayed directly over genetically engineered crops such as <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/corn" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>corn</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/soybeans" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>soybeans</span></a>, and also over non-genetically engineered crops such as <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/wheat" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>wheat</span></a> and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/oats" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>oats</span></a> as a desiccant to dry crops out prior to harvest. Many farmers also use it on fields before the growing season, including <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/spinach" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>spinach</span></a> growers and <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/almond" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>almond</span></a> producers. It is considered the most widely used herbicide in history.</p><p>"Residues of glyphosate have been documented in an array of popular foods made with crops sprayed with glyphosate, including <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/BabyFood" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>BabyFood</span></a> The primary route of exposure for <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/children" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>children</span></a> is through the diet."</p><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/09/weedkiller-glyphosate-cdc-study-urine-samples" rel="nofollow noopener" translate="no" target="_blank"><span class="invisible">https://www.</span><span class="ellipsis">theguardian.com/us-news/2022/j</span><span class="invisible">ul/09/weedkiller-glyphosate-cdc-study-urine-samples</span></a> <br><a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/EU" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>EU</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/USA" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>USA</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Canada" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Canada</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/WaterIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>WaterIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/ToxicPesticides" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>ToxicPesticides</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/Herbicides" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>Herbicides</span></a> <a href="https://kolektiva.social/tags/SoilIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilIsLife</span></a></p>
Michael ヘビ Steinwandter<p><span class="h-card"><a href="https://flipping.rocks/@frankashwood" class="u-url mention" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">@<span>frankashwood</span></a></span><br>Congrats 🎉<br>Good to see that you found a place where people (and administrators) do think that soil is just dirt but life! 🪱🤎</p><p><a href="https://fediscience.org/tags/SoilIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilIsLife</span></a></p>
PhoenixSerenity<p>My <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/CompostSoil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CompostSoil</span></a> delivery from <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/SmallFarmers" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SmallFarmers</span></a> had arrived while I was resting between day job shifts yesterday. Went back to work yesterday & have just 1 OT day this week. The rest are only half days. I can work on getting more garden beds completed & do more back lawn removal/rewilding tasks.</p><p><a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/SaveSoil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SaveSoil</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/GardenersOfMastodon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>GardenersOfMastodon</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/SDFgardeners" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SDFgardeners</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/SoilIsLife" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilIsLife</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/PreciousSoil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>PreciousSoil</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/NoSoilNoFood" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NoSoilNoFood</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/KeepSoilClean" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>KeepSoilClean</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/CleanSoil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>CleanSoil</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/NonPollutedSoil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>NonPollutedSoil</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/SoilToGrowWith" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SoilToGrowWith</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/LoveSoil" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>LoveSoil</span></a> <a href="https://mastodon.sdf.org/tags/SupportLocalSmallFarms" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">#<span>SupportLocalSmallFarms</span></a></p>
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