BY OUR CORRESPONDENT HYDERABAD Nov. 30: Thousands of tonnes of electronic waste generated from the city is tucked away in landfills or burnt disregarding health hazards it poses. The landfills turn harmful with the leaching of mercury, cadmium and lead toxins and contaminates land and water sources by percolation. Studies have also indicated that this contamination can cause carcinogenic, thyroidal and neuro-behavioural problems. Similarly, dioxins which are formed when the electronic waste is burnt contains significant amounts of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which can trigger serious respiratory infections and asthma if inhaled. Chronic exposure to open fire emissions may lead to cancer. The city is reported to generate 4,000 tonnes of e-waste a year at the rate 6,000 kg per day. So far, only private companies have volunteered in the disposal of electronic waste and which has been approved by the AP Pollution Control Board. The firms include GL Multiclave and Ramky and both are planning to set up their units in the city to handle the e-waste, according to the APPCB senior environmental engineer, Mr Rajendra Reddy