Cross-Border Impacts of the Restriction of Hazardous Substances: A Perspective Based on Japanese Solders

Abstract

Despite the relevance of the global economy, Regulatory Impact Assessments of the restriction of hazardous substances (RoHS) in the European Union (EU) are based only on domestic impacts. This paper explores the cross-border environmental impacts of the RoHS by focusing on the shifts to lead-free solders in Japan, which exports many electronics to the EU. The regulatory impacts are quantified by integrating a material flow analysis for metals constituting a solder with a scenario analysis with and without the RoHS. The results indicate that the EU regulation, the RoHS, has triggered shifts in Japan to lead-free solders, not only for electronics subject to this regulation, but for other products as well. We also find that the RoHS leads to a slow reduction in environmental emissions of the target, lead, but results in a rapid increase in the use of tin and silver in lead-free solders. This indicates the importance of assessing potential alternative substances, the use of which may increase as a result of adhering to the RoHS. The latter constitutes a negative impact because of recent concerns regarding resource criticality.

Detecting Illegal Intercountry Trade of Mercury Using Discrepancies in Mirrored Trade Data

“…Our society is phasing out mercury through international environmental regulations because of its damaging effects on human health and ecosystems. Regulations targeting mercury-added products include the End-of-Life Vehicles (ELV) directive of 2003, the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive of 2006 in the European Union (EU), and the Electronic Waste Recycling Act (EWRA) of 2007 in California. − Additionally, the EU and the United States have directly banned the exports of mercury since 2011 and 2013, respectively. , To control mercury’s anthropogenic life cycle internationally, including mining, international trade, production, use, and waste management, the Minamata Convention on Mercury (hereafter, “Convention”) was adopted in 2013. , The Convention came into force in 2017 and currently includes 137 party countries. , The Convention’s advantage over other environmental conventions is that it includes a tripartite institutional design comprising legally binding regulations, an independent financial mechanism, and a compliance mechanism . As the international movement to phase out mercury gains momentum, concerns about international mercury trade are increasing…”

Enhanced mechanical properties of polyurethane composite coatings through nanosilica addition

“…Electronics components and boards which utilize pure tin, tin-rich surfaces and tin-based solders have become more prevalently used these days following the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directives banning the use of lead (Pb) [1]. One issue associated with the increased usage of tin is the appearance of tin 'whiskers' which nucleate and grow from the stressed tin-rich surfaces resulting in metallized surface damage and unwanted debris inside the package, cause current leakage, and may often cause catastrophic failure.…”