The Cost Of a Smartphone

Today, more than 3 billion people are using smartphones worldwide. While smartphones have enhanced our lives, not many people would stop to think about the fact that the average smartphone is made up of 30 or so elements, including gold, silver, and copper. How did these metals end up in our phones and how does this affect the environment? In a smartphone, there is an element group called the rare earth metals. Rare earths are a selection of 17 elements that are found in the earth’s crust and have a range of magnetic, phosphorescent, and conductive properties that are vital to modern technology. However, these elements need to be extracted through pit mining. Pit mining is a difficult task because rare earths are spread out in low concentrations, making it difficult for miners to extract them without negatively impacting the environment. Pit mining is controversial because habitats are destroyed and air and water pollution occurs. Along with these environmental problems, social problems occur as well and include human and animal displacement and relocation and poor working conditions for labourers. The unfortunate reality is that the ingredients we make our phones out of are not infinite, meaning they will run out one day. Today, many people are recycling their phones or donating their old ones to charities for reuse. However, recycling can be problematic as electronic waste is sometimes exported intentionally to countries where labour is cheap but working conditions are poor. Additionally, phone waste can also end up in huge dump sites where toxic chemicals leak into the soil and water. Still, progress is being made. The next time you buy a new smartphone, consider your options so you can reduce your environmental footprint.