ntained in computer equipment that are of greatest concern are summarized below.LeadLead is found in the CRT, in the soldering of printed circuit boards and in othercomponents of IT equipment. Lead represents approximately 6.3%, by weight of anaverage PC 13. Based on the total number of obsolete PC’s and monitors in Canada in2000, this translates to about 1,356 tons of lead disposed in 2000.Based on the prediction that 47,821 tons of PCs and monitors will be disposed in 2005 and assuming that the average composition of this equipment will not changesignificantly by that year, 3,012 tons of lead will be disposed with this stream in 2005.A CRT in a computer monitor can contain from 0.7 to 2.7 kg of lead depending on themonitors size and year of manufacture. This lead is contained in various components ofthe CRT, including: 14 The glass funnel, which is glass that is 22-25% lead (bound into the glass). Leadis used in the funnel to shield users from radiation produced by the electron gun. The faceplate, which contains 2-3% lead bound into the glass. The frit (a glass solder that joins the faceplate and funnel components of theCRT), which contains 15 to 100 grams per CRT.The lead contained in the frit is of greater concern because it is in a soluble form(primarily lead oxide) that can leach 15, while the lead contained in the glass funnel and in the faceplate is in an insoluble form.CadmiumCadmium is present in certain components, including chip resistors, infrared detectors, semiconductors, older CRTs and is sometimes present in plastics as a stabilizer. Cadmium represents approximately 0.009% of a PC by weight 16. Based on the total number of disposed PC’s in Canada in 2000, this translates to 2.0 tons of cadmium.Based on the prediction that 47,821 tones of PCs and monitors will be disposed in 2005 and assuming that the average composition of this equipment will not changesignificantly by that year, 4.5 tons of cadmium will ...
