Hazardous substances reduced but not eliminated from laptops.
Greenpeace purchased 18 laptops representing six different
brands in 14 countries in Europe, in North and South America and
Asia and sent them for analysis by an independent laboratory in
Denmark and at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories at Exeter
University, in the UK. (2)
The results of the analysis, contained in the report, "Toxic
chemicals in computers - Reloaded", (1) show bromine being present
in over 40 per cent of the components tested, at concentrations of
up to 10 per cent by weight. Of the components tested, Sony laptops
were found to have the lowest number containing bromine, Dell
laptops had the highest number. PVC was found in 44 per cent of all
plastic coating of internal wires and external cables that were
tested. Phthalates were found in the power cables supplied with all
laptops, with the highest levels in those of Acer and HP laptops.
(3)
"While levels of certain toxic chemicals in the laptop
components tested do not exceed current European standards, other
hazardous chemicals found in laptops are not yet covered by
European regulations," said Zeina Alhajj, Greenpeace International
toxics campaigner. "Greenpeace's goal is for computer manufacturers
to eliminate the use of toxic materials completely."
The new report follows up on a similar Greenpeace investigation
into toxics in laptops sold in Europe in 2006, (4) prior to the
introduction of European legislation on hazardous substances in
electrical and electronic equipment, known as RoHS (5).
With the implementation of RoHS, computer manufacturers have
significantly reduced their use of lead, cadmium, mercury,
hexavalent chromium and certain brominated flame retardants. These
changes have been implemented by all companies and not only for the
European market.
"As all these brands are available in India, consumers will
benefit from this attempt by manufacturers to make their products
free of toxic substances and chemicals. Even in the absence
legislation in India, Indian companies are making their products
RoHS compliant, just to compete with these global brands. But
legislation in India will spur this move by Indian companies
towards producing greener electronics," said Pranav Sinha,
Greenpeace India toxics campaigner
"The results demonstrate that legislation in one region can
have an influence even in countries where it does not yet apply.
However, even where they do exist, current laws fail to regulate
all hazardous chemicals in laptops, or in other electrical
equipment, "said Dr. Kevin Brigden from the Greenpeace Research
Laboratories who oversaw the sampling analyses and produced the
report. "Laws which aim to protect human health and the environment
must ultimately address all hazardous substances," he added.
The analysis shows that, for almost every component found to
contain either bromine or plastic PVC, an equivalent component free
of these chemicals can be found in another laptop.
"In theory, by combining components from different machines, the
industry could already almost produce the first toxic-free
computer," said al-Hajj. "The question is, which company is going
to be the first to go the whole way."
For further information, contact
Zeina Alhajj, Greenpeace International Campaigner +31 (0) 6 53128904
Pranav Sinha, Greenpeace India Campaigner, 09880821149
Saumya Tripathy, Greenpeace Communications, 09343862212
Maarten van Rouveroy, Greenpeace International Video Producer +31 (0) 6 4619 7322
Notes to Editor
The Greenpeace Toxics campaign website:
http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics
(1) The report ‘Toxic chemicals in computers - Reloaded’ is available at: www.greenpeace.org/laptopreport2
(2) Greenpeace purchased a total of 18 individual laptops, representing six popular brands of laptop computer (Acer, Apple, Dell, HP, Sony and Toshiba) within the EU and other countries in Europe, in North and South America and in Asia between July and September 2006. The presence of a variety of hazardous substances was investigated in a comparable selection of internal and external components. The analyses were carried out at an independent Danish laboratory and at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories in the UK.
(3) Bromine: In whatever form, the presence of high proportions by weight of bromine in electronic components is of concern with respect to the disposal or recycling at end-of-life, as even cross-linked organic-bound bromine can contribute to the formation of toxic chemicals, including persistent and bio-accumulative brominated dioxins and related compounds during thermal destruction or processing.
PVC: (polyvinyl chloride) is a chlorinated plastic. Its production, use and disposal can create toxic pollution, including the formation of persistent and bio-accumulative and toxic chlorinated dioxins and related compounds.
Phthalates: These toxic chemicals are widely used as plasticisers (softeners) in some plastics, especially softened PVC. Phthalates are able to migrate out of the plastic over time. A number of phthalates were identified including DEHP, a chemical classified in the EU as ‘toxic to reproduction’.
(4) The report “Toxics Chemicals in Computers – Exposed”: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/press/reports/toxic-chemicals-in-computers
(5) The European Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, or the RoHS Directive (Directive 2002/95), entered into force on July 1st 2006. The Directive prohibits, with certain exemptions, the placing on the market within the EU of such equipment if it contains more than regulated amounts of lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium (chromium (VI)), or of two types of brominated flame retardants, namely polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs, other than the decabrominated congener BDE-209).