Please help us support requiring manufacturers to phase out the use of hazardous materials in all consumer electronics sold in California. This would model a directive currently in place in the European Union, that requires manufacturers of all electrical and electronic equipment to phase out the use of known toxic and carcinogenic elements from the design of their products.

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The Problem
Electronic Waste, better known as e-waste, is the fastest growing waste stream in our country. Most electronics are manufactured with well known toxic constituents, such as mercury, lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, and brominated flame retardants. According to the US EPA, about 70% of the toxic heavy metals found in landfills come from e-waste. When these chemicals leak from a landfill, or if e-waste is incinerated, these chemicals escape into the air and settle into soil and nearby water bodies, ultimately contaminating food chains.

Mercury is dangerous because it is readily absorbed into the body via skin contact or inhalation, and can cause damage to the central nervous and reproductive systems as well as neurological and kidney damage. Lead has similar effects. In addition to renal disease, cardiovascular effects and reproductive toxicity, lead may cause irreversible neurological damage. Some effects of lead remain latent, and can not be detected by clinical examination, so the threat of lead exposure is ominous to all people of every age.

Like mercury and lead, cadmium is stored in fatty tissues as well as in the kidneys and liver, and released only very slowly. Unlike mercury and lead, cadmium levels increase with age.

The European Union's RoHS Directive prohibits all electrical and electronic devices from the market that do not comply with the phase out of toxic materials. Under current law in California (under SB 20/50), manufacturers of CRTs, monitors and TVs are already requires to phase out these toxic chemicals by 2007.