Chemicals in consumer products Katrin Juhanson Baltic Environmental Forum Estonia Katrin.Juhanson@bef.ee 29 30 June, St. Petersburg
Overview of the presentation: a)nickel and allergy b)electronics hazardous substances in products and waste
Part 1: Chemicals in consumer goods The Nickel Case
Intro In developed countries allergic diseases are among the most common chronic disorders, affecting up to 15 30% of the population (European Allergy White Paper, 1997). Pollen and house mites rhinitis ( runny nose ) Food allergy Allergic Contact Dermatitis may be caused by various components in consumer products like cosmetics, cleaning products, clothing and toys.
Intro What is ACD? ACD is a type of hypersensitivity reaction, an allergic reponce
Allergens in consumer products A large European study among 26210 patients shows that most frequent sensitizers are: - Nickel (17,9%) buttons, jewels/trinkets, buckles, hair slides, electronics. - Fragrance mix (9,7%) perfume, washing and cleaning agents, soap, shampoo - Balsam of Peru (6,0%) - perfume - Cobalt chloride (5,9%) - - Pottasium dichromate (4,6%) - Colophionium (4,0%) - PPD (3,9%) - Thiurams (3,2%) Proven that other studies support the same trend. Five main categories of allergic substances in consumer products can be distinguished: metals, fragrances, (hair) dyes, preservatives and resins/ solvents.
The case of Nickel Directive 76/769/EEC restriction on t he marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations - Annex I Nickel and its compounds Directive 2004/96/EC restrictions on the marketing and use of nickel for piercing post assemlies for the purpose of adapting its ANNEX I to technical progress
Nickel and Mobile Phones
28. Nickel CAS No 7440-0-20 EINECS No 2311114 and its compounds 1) 2) 3) May not be used: in all post assemblies which are inserted into pierced ears and other pierced parts of the human body unless the rate of nickel release from such post assemblies is less than 0,2 µg/cm2/week (migration limit); in products intended to come into direct and prolonged contact with the skin such as: earrings, necklaces, bracelets and chains, anklets, finger rings, wrist-watch cases, watch straps and tighteners, rivet buttons, tighteners, rivets, zippers and metal marks, when these are used in garments if the rate of nickel release from the parts of these products coming into direct and prolonged contact with the skin is greater than 0.5 µg/cm²/week; in products listed in point 2 above where these have a non-nickel coating unless such coating is sufficient to ensure that the rate of nickel release from those parts of such products coming into direct and prolonged contact with the skin will not exceed 0.5 µg/cm²/week for a period of at least two years of normal use of the product.
Part 2: E-Waste Hazardous substances in products and waste
The problem of E-waste Waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), also known as e-waste : -Fastest growing types of hazardous waste globally -Classified as hazardous waste because it contains many toxic ingredients, incl. heavy metals and harmful, persistent chemicals, with the potential to pollute the Environment and damage human health when processed, Recycled or disposed of. A mobile phone, for example, contains 500 to 1000 components. Many of these contain toxic heavy metals lead, mercury, cadmium, etc.
The problem of E-waste Current e-waste in the EU is estimated at 8,7 million tonnes a year. The amount collected and treated is estimated at only 2,1 million tonnes ( 25%). The remaining 6.6 million tonnes, or 75%, is the EU s general hidden flow no precise data is available on what happens to this waste??? The Hidden Flow Where does e-waste end up?
A Chinese child sits amongst a pile of wires and e-waste. Children can often be found dismantling e.waste containing many hazardous chemicals known to be potentially very Damaging to children s health (Source: Greenpeace).
Producer responsibility The EU WEEE Directive (Art. 8.2) makes each producer responsible for its own-branded discarded products brought on the market since August 2005 (Individual Producer Responsibility).
Control mechanisms: WEEE and RoHS Directive
The Basel Convention Source: http://www.grida.no/publications/vg/waste2/
The WEEE and RoHS Directives Directive 2002/96/EC 13.08.2005 Directive 2002/95/EC 1.07.2006 WEEE Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Products within the scope of the WEEE Directive are normally also covered by: RoHS Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment
The WEEE and RoHS Directives The WEEE and RoHS Directives aim to reduce the environmental impacts of electrical and electronic equipment Covers waste management of electrical and electronic products. New equipment placed on the European market must collected and treated properly. Products must be easily reused or recycled at the end of the life cycle. Bans the use of certain restricted substances, which can harm the waste streams. New electrical equipment placed on the European market must not contain more than maximum allowable levels of hazardous substances.
WEEE and RoHS have implications for: - Product manufacturers - Component manufacturers - Importers - Retailers - Local authorities - Consumers Legal and financial responsibility rests with the producers The introduction of these directives now puts stringent requirements on almost all consumer and commercial electrical and electronic products sold in Europe
The scope of WEEE - All equipment dependent on electrical currents or electromagnetic fields - 10 indicative categories: large household, small household, IT and Telecoms., consumer equipment, lighting equipment, electrical and electronic tools, toys leisure & sports, medical devices, monotoring and control, automatic sidpensing machines - Specific exemptions exist e.g. medical equipment, military equipment, etc.
*Medical devices and monitor & control instruments are exempt from the RoHS Directive
The RoHS Directive Products which do not comply could be removed from the market within the EU The RoHS directive restricts the use of six substances. The legislation aims to reduce environmental impacts of waste and improve recyclability. The two directives work in conjunction with one another from the standpoint that RoHS reduces hazardous substances which would reduce the risk of exposure to the recycling staff.
RoHS Requirements From 1st July 2006, new electrical and electronic equipment put on the market should not contain... Lead Mercury Hexavalent Chromium Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB) Polybrominated Diphenyl (PBDE) Tetrabromobisphenol (TBBP-A) Cadmium 0,1% 0,01% Maximum concentration values by weight per homogenous material* *Homogenous material a material that cannot be mechanically separated
Substances banned under Banned/ Restricted substance Cadmium (human carcinogens, accumulates in body, highly toxic) Mercury (damage brain, central nervous system ) Hexavalent chromium (toxic, human carcinogens) Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) (persistent, bioaccumulative, interrupts hormone system) Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) Lead (highly toxic, damage to nervous system) RoHS Use/ Where found in electronics Batteries, paints, pigments (yellow), additives in plastics (especially polyvinyl chloride (PVC, used in cable assemblies)), phosphorescent coatings, detectors/ devices/ LEDs Switches, pigments, paints, polyurethane materials (high gloss PU windows), lamps, bulbs/lighting (displays, scanners, projectors). Metal finishes for corrosion protection, aluminium conversion coatings, alloys, pigments, paints Used as flame retardants (plastics, housings, cables, connectors, fans, compnents, paints) Same as PBBs Exemptions of application of banned substances listed in Annex of RoHS Directive Solder and interconnevts, batteries, paints, pigments, sealing glasses, PVC cables (UV/ heat stabilisers), metal parts, washers