Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs): Chemical breakdown and dismantling data for e-waste

Abstract

This paper draws attention to unintended releases of chemical substances from solid materials and their impact on the human body and the environment in general. For example, such Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) include heavy metals, light metals, plasticisers and flame retardants. Specifically, the article focuses on releases associated with solid materials in electric/electronic (E/E) industries, e.g. in charging plugs and cables, in-cable control boxes, and wall chargers. The Phthalates, contained in such articles (e.g. DEHP, CAS 117-81-7) can pose health and environmental hazards and, we argue, they should be subject to control. Typically, the human body is exposed to such substances via frequent, prolonged skin exposure, while releases into the environment are less direct but nonetheless occur. This article identifies the legal and regulatory gaps in tracking hazardous substances of e-waste and discusses potential solutions for containing their unintended release. It proposes a preferred solution that focuses on tracking the various stages of the lifecycle of relevant products.