ENVIRONMENT GROUP CLAIMS ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING CONTAMINATING WATER RESOURCES

Business World

February 23-24, 2007

Toxic residues from the manufacture of electronics are contaminating key water sources in the Philippines, a study of an environment protection group has claimed.

In its study, entitled, "Cutting Edge Contamination: A study of environmental pollution duting the manufacture of electronic products," Greenpeace Southeast Asia said levels of toxicity in rivers in high in areas where industrial estates are located in the Philippines, Mexico, Thailand, and China.

"This new report reveals that contamination arising even during the manufacture of electronics is an issue of great concern.  The results exposed by this report are worrying, especially because we Filipinos rely heavily on groundwater of drinking," Greenpeace Southeast Asia campaigner Ira Beau Baconguis said in a statement.

Eduardo B. Principe, director of the office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 4, withheld comment, saying the department has yet to receive a copy of the Greenpeace study and would task a multipartite monitoring team to investigate the reported pollution, before specific firms are asked to explain. "We still have to coordinate and look into the findings of the group, "he said.

Ms. Baconguis said analysis of groundwater samples taken within all around specific industrial parks operating south of Metro Manila showed varying degrees of contamination from different hazardous chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals. VOCs are known to affect the kidneys, the central nervous system and the liver, and are potentially carcinogenic.

Ms. Baconguis said all sites tested contained chlorinated VOCs, toxic solvents or degreasers used in "cleaning" semiconductors and electrical equipment.

She said that samples taken from areas around the zones had unusually high levels of contaminants, with a sample containing tetrachloroethene at levels nine times above the World Health Organization's human safety limits and 70 times the US Environmental Protection Agency's maximum contamination level for drinking water.

Ms. Baconguis noted that elevated levels of metals-particularly copper, nickel and zinc- were also found in groundwater samples in some sites.

"The findings at this stage make it clear that only when we factor in the complete life cycle of electronic products will their full environmental costs emerge.  Major electronic manufacturers must get their suppliers to eliminate toxic chemicals from their production systems so that communities will not have to suffer from consequences of unknowingly consuming contaminated water, "she said.

"Electronics manufacturing remains at the cutting edge of technological development and has a strong economic future.  there is no reason why it should not also be at the cutting edge of technological development and has a strong economic future. There is no reason why it should not also be at the cutting edge when it comes to clean designs and technologies, substitution of hazardous chemicals, greater worker health protection and the prevention of environmental pollution at source, "she added.