Final answer:
The environmental challenges of metal extraction from recycled electronics include water contamination, air pollution, and soil degradation due to chemicals leaching, harmful emissions, and soil disruption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The environmental challenges to extracting metals from recycled electronic devices include contamination of water sources, air pollution, and soil degradation. Extracting metals often involves the use of chemicals that can leach into water bodies, polluting them and potentially causing harm to aquatic life and human health. The recycling process can release harmful airborne pollutants that impact air quality and pose health risks. Additionally, the physical process of extraction can disrupt the soil structure and remove vital nutrients, leading to degradation of soil quality.