Blog Post #6 Sharing and Reflecting on 2 Research Sources

My research paper thesis statement is "While recent advertisements for new devices like cell phones and computers stress an optimistic, even techno-romantic perspective, the reality is that e-waste is a pressing problem when these new devices are discarded.


I intend on including a page or two in my research paper that covers appropriate ways to discard your devices, and other solutions to the e-waste problem. For this reason, I have looked to sources that cover this topic. One article I found through EBSCOhost is "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Good Earth and the Electronics Dilemma" by Don E. Descy. This article provides plenty of relevant information on the possible ways of getting rid of your old computers. I liked this article because he provided innovative and creative ways of doing this such as donating your computer to a local school, or charity, as well as provided information on computer take back programs from several popular technology companies. He also mentions a few statistics that I found interesting concerning e-waste. One special statistic mentioned was "According to the National Safety Council, 63 million computers became obsolete in 2005 alone. They also estimate that the total number in storage in 2007 numbers upwards of 500 million computers." This is fascinating and supports my thesis statements concern for the disposal of computers, as well as the much less appealing side of these tech products. I also liked the tone of this article because it sounds as though it is geared towards younger readers, as he mentions thinking of leaving his own computer in his dorm hallway for someone to take (which implies he is a college student). This is important because I also plan to write about who most of these advertisements wish to attract, and I will focus on some geared towards college students. This article will serve my paper well.

A second source that I will be using for my research paper is the article "Developmental Neurotoxicants in E-waste, an Emerging Health Concern", written by Aimin Chen. This article focuses on the potential exposure to e-waste toxicants in vulnerable populations - that is, pregnant women and developing children - and neurodevelopmental outcomes. It also features a summary of experimental evidence of developmental neurotoxicity and mechanisms. This will serve as a good source for my paper because it is very clear and will help my argument about how toxic chemicals that are released by e-waste and primitive recycling habits are damaging to the population living in the community they are dumped in.