Technological progress has allowed humanity to move from a primitive lifestyle to lives where we have access to the world at our fingertips. With advances in technology, the difficulties that many faced in the past have been overcome or greatly reduced. The creation of devices such as cell phones, tablets, music devices, gaming systems and, most importantly, computers, has led to a dramatic improvement in the quality of life for everyone. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Computers (as well as the devices mentioned above) have enabled advances in medical research, education, expanding the limits of communication thanks to the Internet, accurate predictions of natural disasters and weather conditions, as well as the creation of a society fairer. However, despite all the positive outcomes that come from computer technology, there are obviously several negative aspects that come with it as well. For all the good these machines do, they can pose a serious threat to the environment and our personal health. Computers can threaten the environment through chemicals found in electronic waste in landfills and high energy consumption. As for our health, computers can harm it through radiation, eye strain, and behavioral problems. Electronic devices that are improperly recycled, such as by dumping them in a landfill, can pose a serious threat to our environment. Approximately 40 million tons of e-waste are produced every year, and 13% of this waste commonly comes from developing countries. 50 to 80% of fires and deconstruction of these electronic products occur in developing countries such as India, China, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Therefore, improper disposal of e-waste has caused contamination of our air, water and soil. The air around us becomes contaminated when e-waste recycling processes are not done carefully. In struggling economies, such as those in developing countries, e-waste is managed through dismantling, shredding and open burning. When e-waste is dismantled or shredded, it can emit dust and large particles into the surrounding area, affecting workers without adequate protection as they pollute the air. The release of dioxins and toxic hydrocarbons also occurs when burning electronic waste such as cables in the open air. Particles released after burning this e-waste can quickly travel thousands of kilometers, causing problems in the human respiratory system, which can lead to lung disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. In fact, due to open burning, over 45 million people living in the Pearl River Delta region of southeast China are exposed to toxic dioxins due to open burning. Humans are exposed to heavy metals once the chemicals in e-waste enter the “soil-crop-food pathway,” which means these heavy metals will remain in the environment and continue to negatively affect humans as the heavy metals are not biodegradable. Furthermore, contamination of our air threatens wildlife and biodiversity, ultimately negatively affecting humans as well. The longer contaminants remain in the air we breathe, they can cause undefined damage to water quality, soil and plants. For example, the lead that comesinhaled through the air and ingested back into water and soil it can bioaccumulate in the food chain and can become extremely problematic for large animals, including humans. E-waste also contaminates our soil, as flame retardants and heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and cadmium can leach into the soil. As a result, aquifers that lie beneath the soil and nearby crops will be polluted. These contaminants and toxins could last long into the future and even evolve into much more dangerous forms as time passes. Likewise, our drinking water can become contaminated due to improper disposal of e-waste, acidifying and poisoning it. Once released to the public, it can cause serious disease and health problems if consumed by humans or animals and threaten our ecosystems. High energy consumption due to excessive computer usage also plays a role in the negative effects on the environment. First, wasteful use of a computer can increase our carbon footprint. Simply leaving a laptop plugged into an outlet even if it's fully charged can waste over 300 kilowatt hours a year, while a desktop wastes over 600 kilowatt hours. By overusing electricity, we allow more greenhouse gases to enter the atmosphere. Furthermore, climate change is influenced by our computer use. When we leave our computers on for long periods of time and recklessly waste their energy, they contribute to methane emissions that influence climate change. Often overlooked, is the fact that heavy electricity consumption can even threaten our natural resources, as can excessive use of computers. and so, we threaten different environments just to be able to ensure a high energy supply. When our computers break, we harm the environment as they become electronic waste when replaced. Not only can computers pose a huge threat to our environment, but they can also put our personal health at risk in more ways than one. One way our personal health can be put at risk is from radiation from computers and laptops. Some negative outcomes from overexposure to computer radiation include fertility problems in both men and women, DNA fragmentation, skin burns, rashes, and more. When a laptop is held on a man's lap for a prolonged period, the thermal radiation can damage his fertility by reducing his sperm count. Electromagnetic radiation can also cause damage to our chromosomes and healthy cells resulting from thermal radiation from internal computer components. The most threatening thing is that due to cathode ray tubes (CRTs), the X-ray radiation emitted can even cause cancer in an individual. Computers can also damage human vision. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a vision problem that results from glare from a computer screen, contrast on the screen, or words on the screen that are illegible. This can blur your vision, cause headaches and strain your eyes, but the effects are only temporary and return to normal after being away from the computer for a while. Vision alone isn't the only function that computers can have a negative effect on. Computers can cause many other physical ailments and problems with an individual's mental state. Excessive computer use can take a toll on a person's physical health, causing back pain from sitting in front of a computer all day. This is especially true for those whose professions.