We are living in an electronic age. We have e-mail,
e-banking, e-business, e-books, e-medicine (telemedicine) and so on. The
e-products like laptops and cellular phones have penetrated the society in a
big way. However majority of users of
these products are unaware of presence of hazardous chemicals in electronic
goods. The Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous
substances in electrical and electronic equipment was adopted in 2003 by
the European Union. The RoHS-directive, restricts the use of six
hazardous materials (viz., lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, PBB and PDBE) in
the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment.
PBB and PBDE are brominated flame retardants used
in several plastics. BFR release dioxins
and furans which are neurotoxins. A long term exposure of these substances may
lead to damage of Nervous system, Kidney, Bones, Reproductive System and
Endocrine system.
Instead of indulging in innovation and R&D to design out
toxic chemicals the electronics companies are busy in selling their hazardous
products through aggressive marketing. Consumers
and Ministry of consumer’s affairs seem woefully ignorant of these issues. There
is no ‘Jago grahak Jago’ campaign on RoHS directive or its exemption.
However the trend of going green and manufacturing clean
products free from hazardous chemicals is slowly picking up. Consumers are
becoming more informed and aware. They prefer green and clean products. Green labeling
of e-products should be initiated for helping consumer in selection.
Hazardous chemicals should be substituted with safer
alternatives. Several companies are launching safer products. Motorola launched
BFR free cell phones. In India HCL and Wipro are complying with RoHS directive
which promotes phasing out of six deadly substances viz., Pb, Hg, Cr, Cadmium,
and two BFRs in e-products.
