E-Waste Export Issues from the U.S. to Guiyu, China - May 2007

E-Waste Export Issues from the U.S. to Guiyu, China - May 2007

According to a report by the Basel Action Network (BAN), a U.S. environmental NGO, approximately 80% of PCs discarded in the United States are exported to Asia, with about 90% of these going to China. In particular, Guiyu City in Guangdong Province is an area where e-waste disposal is concentrated and serious environmental pollution is a problem. Lead (Pb), which is removed during the dismantling of discarded PCs, is separated directly from the circuit boards, and cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg) are improperly processed, resulting in lead concentrations in the soil that are sometimes 10 times higher than safe standards, and nearby water quality surveys have detected high levels of heavy metals.

Specifically, it is estimated that approximately 500 million units of e-waste are generated annually in the U.S., which emits approximately 70,000,000 kg of lead and 132,000 kg of cadmium. As a result, the blood lead levels of the residents of Guy Yu City, especially children, are far above the standard values, and there is significant concern about the health hazards. Since the United States is the only OECD country that has not ratified the Basel Convention and is therefore beyond the reach of international e-waste regulations, this issue will require continued action.