Civil Services Prep

Prelims 2013 · Environment · Question 79

Due to improper/indiscriminate disposal of old and used computers or their parts, which of the following are released into the environment as e-waste?<br/>1. Beryllium<br/>2. Cadmium<br/>3. Chromium<br/>4. Heptachlor<br/>5. Mercury<br/>6. Lead<br/>7. Plutonium<br/><br/>Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

  1. 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 only
  2. 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only
  3. 2, 4, 5 and 7 only
  4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7

Answer

1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only

1. Beryllium — Used in computer motherboards/connectors and can enter the environment through e-waste. Correct.

2. Cadmium — Found in rechargeable batteries, chip resistors and semiconductors in electronic waste. Correct.

3. Chromium — Used in metal plating/corrosion protection in electronic components; can be released from e-waste. Correct.

4. Heptachlor — An organochlorine pesticide, not a typical constituent of old computers or their parts. Incorrect.

5. Mercury — Present in switches, relays, lamps/monitors and some circuit boards. Correct.

6. Lead — Common in solder, CRT glass and other electronic components. Correct.

7. Plutonium — A radioactive element not used in ordinary computers/e-waste. Incorrect.

Hence, the correct set is 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only.

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