MSC is high on the banning priority list:
http://www.bnellis.com/msc/

Brian

Joe Fjelstad wrote:
>      
> Some fresh news from the EU Commission  below
>  
> There is no argument that "uncontrolled  recycling" can be hazardous just as 
> drunk driving can be  hazardous. And how can one be against the protection  of 
> children. 
>  
> The key is education and education is thus  vital. The parents are working to 
> feed their families. With the knowledge  of the potential for harm them might 
> cause by poor work habits,  they will make as many of the right decisions as 
> they are  capable of.  
>  
> What is a bit alarming is that the  author(s?) following sentence: 
>  
> "Of these metals, high levels of lead and  copper were the greatest cause for 
> concern" 
>  
> then going on to talk about lead issues  leaving apparent guilt by 
> association for copper. 
>  
> The there are a number of other troubling  aspects to the article such as the 
> use if "could be"  rather  than something more definite and the citing 
> sweeping transdermal  metal toxicity which is the first time I have seen that in 
> print.  
> 
> The item might well have been  sub-titled: "Be afraid... be very afraid" 
> targeted not only at the  recycler but also at the electronics manufacturer.
>  
> And so it goes...
>  
> Joe  
>  
>  
> 
> Uncontrolled electronic waste  recycling threat to children�s health 
>  
> Source: _European  Commission, Environment DG_ 
> (http://www.environmental-expert.com/STSE_resultEach.aspx?cid=8819&idproducttype=1&idmainpage=0&level=0)  
> Published May 5, 2008  
> 
> 
> 
> Current EU policy on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)  
> highlights the need for greater recycling of electrical and electronic  equipment to 
> limit the total quantity of waste going to landfill. However,  research 
> carried out in China suggests that if recycling is not carried  out safely then 
> there is a significant risk to human health and the  environment. The researchers 
> from Hong Kong studied Guiyu, a village in  southeast China which has a 
> significant electronic circuit board recycling  industry.  
> Villagers melt solder from the circuit boards and sort electrical  
> components, which they sell to electrical appliance factories. Circuit  boards contain 
> many toxic metals. The researchers tested dust from the  recycling workshops, 
> and also from the nearby road, food market and  schoolyard. They found high 
> levels of dangerous heavy metals which would  have an impact on the health of the 
> recycling workers and would pose a  high risk to children. 
> The researchers tested for the metals cadmium, cobalt, chromium,  copper, 
> nickel, lead and zinc. These metals can cause both acute and  long-term toxicity. 
> Of these metals, high levels of lead and copper were  the greatest cause for 
> concern. High lead levels are associated with lower  IQ in children. Other 
> research has shown that both workers and children in  Guiyu have a high incidence 
> of bone disease, as well as digestive,  neurological and respiratory 
> problems, which may be linked to metal  toxicity. 
> A risk assessment indicated that recycling workers could be exposed to  50 
> times the safe oral lead dose. Workers transport the metals into their  homes 
> from the workshop as dust, transferring the dust to their children.  In a 
> separate study, children of circuit board workers were found to have  higher levels 
> of lead in their blood than those whose parents recycled  plastics. The metals 
> get into the body through the skin or when dust is  inadvertently eaten or 
> breathed in. The health risk to children at all  locations around the village 
> was around eight times greater than that to  adults. 
> Few studies to date have determined the extent of the problems caused  by 
> uncontrolled electronic waste recycling. Similar waste is commonly  recycled in 
> African countries as well as India and Vietnam. Awareness of  the consequences 
> of uncontrolled recycling could prevent some of the same  mistakes being 
> repeated in these countries. The amount of WEEE generated  in the European 
> Community is growing rapidly and Policy makers would like  to see more WEEE recycling. 
> The EU WEEE directive seeks to encourage safe  recycling, addressing issues 
> such as managing the risks of handling  hazardous components, which as this 
> case study shows, can cause concerns  if recycling is not carried out  safely.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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> 
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