Click to play videoNew Delhi: The computer you sit in front of for large parts of the day could be harming you. It has components that affect your nervous system, kidneys, reproductive organs, even your brain.
A Greenpeace survey finds Indian computers contain hazardous elements like lead and bromine.
A study on the country's largest manufacturer, HCL, finds:
- Lead, irreversibly affecting the nervous system, is present in the soldering material used in the motherboard and the circuit board below the mouse touchpad.
- Bromine, which affects brain development, is found in the mouse button and the battery casing as well as in the motherboard connectors and cooling fans.
- High concentration of phthalates, or plastic softeners, are found in the external PVC cables.
- These substances leak into the atmosphere and affect the user.
Says a Greenpeace toxic campaigner, Ramapati Kumar, "Our tests found that not just desktops but even laptops are toxic."
HCL is not the only culprit. Most Indian manufacturers use the same materials as HCL though some have committed to a clean-up now.
Wipro says its green computers will hit the market by June and HCL too has assured action.
Says HCL's Executive Vice-President, Marketing George Paul, "We have already started the process of eliminating toxic materials. We are talking with all our partners in the manufacturing chain and will announce a policy in the next two days."
Green computer norms are practiced in the European Union and China. The US however is yet to put these norms in place, though the movement is gaining ground. India needs legislation as well, in production, usage and disposal.
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