UCI researchers address e-waste in Science article

As America’s reliance on cell phones, MP3 players and digital cameras grows, so too do concerns that toxic waste elements in these devices can cause significant environmental and health damage when they are disposed of. In the Oct. 30 issue of Science, UCI researchers Dele Ogunseitan (pictured), Jean-Daniel Saphores and Andrew Shapiro discuss this steadily increasing volume of e-waste and current federal policies for recycling and eliminating hazardous materials like mercury, lead, zinc and cadmium from these devices. They advocate better education programs, increased research efforts and a “cradle to grave” approach to the design, use and disposal of such products.