The whole problem is basically with the electronic waste. A lot of electronic equipments are ending their lives in open junkyards and waste dumps all around the world – many of them with no chemicals control. The water from acid rain dissolves lead and other hazardous materials from the electronic equipments, and the rainwater mixed with these materials go straight to the water table and then to the drinking water.

Lead can affect almost every organ and system in the body, especially the central nervous system. Kidneys and the reproductive system are also affected. The effects are the same, whether it is breathed or swallowed. At high levels, lead may decrease reaction time, cause weakness in fingers, wrists, or ankles, and possibly affect the memory. Lead may also cause anemia.

It is interesting to note that although the electronics industry has been directly targeted for lead removal by the European law, only a small proportion of lead is actually used in electronic equipment production: only 0.49% of all manufactured lead is used in solder and only 2% of the manufactured lead is used in all electro-electronic industry. Battery manufacturing, for example, consumes 80% of the manufactured lead.

And How About the USA?

Even though the United States have no legislation similar to RoHS or WEEE, the state of California passed a law prohibiting the sale of any electronic product that would be prohibited from sale in Europe because of the presence of heavy metals. This law, which is being called “California RoHS”, was effective September 2003, with a compliance deadline of January 2007.