Cleaning the Medical Electronic Environment: How You Can Contribute

Abstract

There is a renewed and concerted movement in the United States to acknowledge and decrease the quantity of hazardous electronic materials entering the environment through the electronic waste, or e-waste, process. This movement is credited to the European Union (EU), which has adopted two important policies since 2002: the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE) and the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS—pronounced “Ross”) directive in July 2006. The two directives require that all 27 EU member states adopt and enforce these policies as law. To comply, they must set up programs for the collection, recycling, and recovery of six hazardous materials used in the manufacture of electronic and electrical equipment, including medical devices. Current policies are also in place to eliminate the use of these substances in the manufacture of new products. The materials covered under WEEE and RoHS are: • Lead (Pb): A heavy metal used in batteries, solder, and fusible alloys that acts as a potent neurotoxin on the body. • Mercury (Hg): A heavy liquid transition metal used in thermometers, switches, and fl uorescent lighting and established as a biological toxin to humans and wildlife. • Cadmium (Cd): A transitional metal found as an impurity in zinc that is used in batteries and printed circuit boards; it is identifi ed as a carcinogen. • Hexavalent chromium (Cr6+): A carcinogenic corrosion inhibitor used in the manufacture of stainless steel and chrome. Exposure is usually established during working with or handling this material (grinding, cutting, skin contact, etc.). • Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs): A manufactured chemical added to plastics to be used as a fl ame retardant; it is linked to various health problems. Current study data of the health effects of PBBs warranted inclusion on the RoHS list. • Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE): A group of halogenated bromides used in electronic manufacturing found to be absorbed in fi sh and wildlife populations. Studies on the absorption of these compounds found that they may possess liver, thyroid, and neurodevelopmental toxicity.