3 ms·

What happens to embedded e-waste/trash in humans (pace makers, artificial hips, implants, etc.)?

by cascom 5y ago

chungy 5y ago
Seems it would be easy to remove non-compostable materials first.
javajosh 5y ago
I wonder if they could be recycled? Not joking. Those hip replacement parts are incredibly expensive; I'm sure there are folks who are in need and could use a cheaper option.
- rscho 5y ago
  They are recycled in some places. Such as sub-saharan Africa
  - BBC-vs-neolibs 5y ago
    In Sweden they used to reuse pacemakers a couple decades back. Don't know about now. I think also American pacemakers are exported to India.
- doggodaddo78 5y ago
  Repo Men (2010)
  - ChrisRR 5y ago
    Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)
doggodaddo78 5y ago
Googling would answer your questions. Pacemakers are removed carefully, especially if they include RTGs. http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2015/ph241/degraw2/ http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2015/ph241/degraw2/ Prosthetic implants are typically not removed. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140311-body-parts-that-live-after-death https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140311-body-parts-that-...
Supermancho 5y ago
In the US, if possible, my heart valve will be cut out of my cadaver and sent back to the manufacturer for analysis. The devices from my body, that have been replaced over time, were tested until failure. The FDA is very interested in performance metrics of implanted devices. The materials are not recycled in the US afaik.
paulpauper 5y ago
probably pales in comparison to other waste
giardini 5y ago
I was told by an elderly foreign gentleman that he made his living by removing such things from bodies before burial or cremation. He said that the metals in teeth were most of his business.
- chucka9 5y ago
  The metals in vascular stents and coils is valuable too (but imagine trying to retrieve those). I know someone who saved up the ones dropped or otherwise opened and not used on a cath lab. I’m not sure what he did after that.

What happens to embedded e-waste/trash in humans (pace makers, artificial hips, implants, etc.)?

by cascom 5y ago

What happens to embedded e-waste/trash in humans (pace makers, artificial hips, implants, etc.)?

chungy 5y ago

Seems it would be easy to remove non-compostable materials first.

javajosh 5y ago

I wonder if they could be recycled? Not joking. Those hip replacement parts are incredibly expensive; I'm sure there are folks who are in need and could use a cheaper option.

rscho 5y ago
They are recycled in some places. Such as sub-saharan Africa
- BBC-vs-neolibs 5y ago
  In Sweden they used to reuse pacemakers a couple decades back. Don't know about now. I think also American pacemakers are exported to India.
doggodaddo78 5y ago
Repo Men (2010)
- ChrisRR 5y ago
  Repo! The Genetic Opera (2008)

doggodaddo78 5y ago

Googling would answer your questions. Pacemakers are removed carefully, especially if they include RTGs. http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2015/ph241/degraw2/ http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2015/ph241/degraw2/ Prosthetic implants are typically not removed. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140311-body-parts-that-live-after-death https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20140311-body-parts-that-...

Supermancho 5y ago

In the US, if possible, my heart valve will be cut out of my cadaver and sent back to the manufacturer for analysis. The devices from my body, that have been replaced over time, were tested until failure. The FDA is very interested in performance metrics of implanted devices. The materials are not recycled in the US afaik.

paulpauper 5y ago

probably pales in comparison to other waste

giardini 5y ago

I was told by an elderly foreign gentleman that he made his living by removing such things from bodies before burial or cremation. He said that the metals in teeth were most of his business.

chucka9 5y ago
The metals in vascular stents and coils is valuable too (but imagine trying to retrieve those). I know someone who saved up the ones dropped or otherwise opened and not used on a cath lab. I’m not sure what he did after that.