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SVTC HOME > CLEAN COMPUTER CAMPAIGN > GREEN DESIGN > LEAD ELIMINATION

Lead-Elimination

Throughout the computer revolution lead has been widely used in solder in circuit boards. Lead has also been determined to be a developmental toxin to children by the US EPA. Recently, Japanese companies have begun to phase out this metal from their products. Below is a list of industry leaders that have made lead-free equipment available.

(Text has been directly quoted from the companies' 2000/2001 environmental reports.)

Fujitsu

1. FS8500 server group
2. Handy terminals Team Pad 7500 Series
3. Gs8500FX server group
4. Liquid Crystal Displays BL series
5. VSP3700 line printer
6. page printers PS2160 series

NEC

Used lead-free solder in 1999 in PC motherboards and in other computer parts as of 2000

Oki

Currently using lead-free in some products

Panasonic

By the end of the following fiscal year [1999], a total of 4 products and 13 variations featured lead-free solder

Sony

Has introduced lead-free solder in part or all-printed wiring board soldering processes with exception of some product categories. As of 2000 lead-free solder used in [Sony’s] notebooks

Toshiba

2001 using lead-free for DynaBook SS3490 personal computer (not available in the US)

More Information on Health Effects of Lead

ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry ToxFAQs Sheet on Lead

Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition 760 N. First Street San Jose, CA 95112 Phone: +1 408-287-6707
Fax: +1 408-287-6771 e-mail: svtc@svtc.org