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Static Control is one category in the very large Industrial Product market. When ever Transforming Technologies has questions about industries outside our niche, we turn to the Q Source Q-Bot for answers.  Today’s question from the Q Source Resource:

Dear Q-Bot: When I shop QSource.com for certain products, I often see the terms RoHS or RoHS-compliant. What does this mean and why is RoHS-compliance important?

Thanks! — S.R.G. via the Internet

Greetings S.R.G.:
RoHS is the acronym for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. Originating in the European Union (EU), and known as Directive 2002/95/EC, it restricts the use of six hazardous/toxic materials used in electrical and electronic products.

Often referred to as Lead-Free, the RoHS Directive indicates maximum levels for these six materials:

• Lead (Pb): < 1000 ppm (Exposure can lead to neurological disorders—including changes in mental development and behaviors in children)
• Mercury (Hg): < 100 ppm (Exposure can lead to neurological disorders—especially in babies and children)
• Cadmium (Cd): < 100 ppm (Exposure can lead to kidney dysfunction, lung cancer, and prostate cancer)
• Hexavalent Chromium: (Cr VI) < 1000 ppm (Exposure can lead to cancer, irritation, nasal septum perforation, the development of stomach ulcers, kidney and liver damage, convulsions, and even death)
• Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB): < 1000 ppm (Exposure is possibly carcinogenic to humans)
• Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE): < 1000 ppm (Exposure can lead to liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, and neurodevelopmental toxicity)

For more discussion on RoHS, visit the Q Source Resource discussion .

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