The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive

[Keaton Truman]

Environmental compliance became a serious issue when the electronic wastes began to cause harmful effects on the health and environment. rohs (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) Directive is one of the laws that were adopted by the European Union, with an aim to control such hazards. Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive, together with the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive, forms the European Law. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive focuses on the restriction of certain harmful substances for the manufacturing of the electrical and electronic equipment.

 

The products manufactured in the member states of the European Union are bound to be RoHS compliant. These are tested for the presence of the restricted chemicals or substances, which include, lead, cadmium, polybrominated biphenyls and diphenyl ether, mercury and hexavalent chromium. Since lead is the most important among the restricted ones, the directive is also sometimes called as lead free directive. The principles of the directive suggest that the manufacturers or the producers themselves should the responsible to see that their products do not use harmful substances. These substances are equally harmful for the customers, as well as, for those who are employed in the manufacturing process.

 

Though the rule is strict, certain substances are also manufactured which are either partially or wholly exempted from abiding by the restrictions of the RoHS directive. They include certain metal parts, solders, paints and pigments, batteries and PVCs, which have lead as one of their ingredients. Mercury can also be found in certain switches in the automobiles, and the fluorescent lamps.

[Anders Hoveland]

Though the rule is strict, certain substances are also manufactured which are either partially or wholly exempted from abiding by the restrictions of the RoHS directive. They include... fluorescent lamps.

 

I find it ironic how the EU is trying to force everyone to use fluorescent lamps, while making all the other devices that contain mercury illegal.

I think the EU should leave everyone alone and stop telling them what lights they are allowed to use!!!!

 

 

[CharonY]

AFAIK the rules indicate upper limits of hazardous substances. It is not an outright ban of all hazardous materials at any concentration (which is hardly feasible), but an effort to limit it. Since the manufacturers are self-reporting, it is not quite clear how effective it is going to be in reality. CFLs have only roughly 3 mg of mercury per bulb. That is roughly the amount of mercury in 3 kg of fish.

[Anders Hoveland]

CFLs have only roughly 3 mg of mercury per bulb. That is roughly the amount of mercury in 3 kg of fish.

That is very disturbing. I probably eat a little over 1 kg of fish every week.

Why is there so much mercury polluting our water?

Something needs to be done about this. The first place to start would be with those pestilent compact fluorescent light bulbs!

[John Cuthber]

Am I the only one who thinks the original post is spam?

[hypervalent_iodine]

Not anymore it isn't.

[John Cuthber]

Well, now it isn't even spam, I think it's a totally pointless thread. (other threads on similar topics are available).

Would someone like to put it out of its misery?