Substances
3TG: Tin, Tantalum, Tungsten, Gold
3TG
The four conflict minerals. In electronics, tin goes into solder, tantalum into capacitors, tungsten into alloys and weights, and gold into plating and bonding.
ReadAntimony Trioxide (Sb2O3)
Antimony trioxide
A flame-retardant synergist and PET catalyst that is a suspected carcinogen and sits on the REACH Candidate List of substances of very high concern.
ReadArsenic (As)
Arsenic
A metalloid whose many compounds are carcinogenic. Several appear on the REACH Candidate List or Authorisation list, and arsenic shows up in specialty glass, semiconductors and historic wood preservatives.
ReadBeryllium (Be)
Beryllium
A light, stiff metal used in copper alloys for springs and connectors. Its dust is carcinogenic when inhaled, and it sits under REACH CoRAP evaluation while appearing in material declarations as a substance to watch.
ReadBisphenol A (BPA)
BPA
A building block of polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, and a developer in some thermal paper. It is toxic to reproduction, acts as an endocrine disruptor, and sits on the REACH Candidate List.
ReadBrominated Flame Retardants (BFR)
BFR
A class of bromine-based flame retardants added to plastics and electronics, including PBB, PBDE, HBCDD and TBBPA, whose persistence and dioxin risk drive the move to halogen-free.
ReadCadmium (Cd)
Cadmium
A carcinogenic heavy metal carrying the strictest RoHS limit of 0.01 percent per homogeneous material, and also restricted under ELV and REACH Annex XVII.
ReadChlorinated Paraffins (SCCP, MCCP)
SCCP / MCCP
Chlorinated paraffins used as flame retardants and plasticisers, where the short-chain type is banned as a persistent organic pollutant and the medium-chain type is on the REACH Candidate List.
ReadCobalt (Co)
Cobalt
A metal central to lithium-ion battery cathodes, alloys, pigments and catalysts. Several cobalt salts are carcinogenic and on the REACH Candidate List, the metal is under evaluation, and its sourcing faces responsible-supply-chain scrutiny.
ReadCyclosiloxanes (D4, D5, D6)
Siloxanes
The cyclic volatile methylsiloxanes D4, D5 and D6. They are persistent and bioaccumulative, sit on the REACH Candidate List, and face restrictions in wash-off cosmetics under Annex XVII.
ReadHexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD)
HBCDD
A brominated flame retardant once used in polystyrene insulation foam, now banned as a persistent organic pollutant and listed for REACH authorisation.
ReadHexavalent Chromium (Cr VI)
Cr VI
A carcinogenic form of chromium restricted under RoHS at 0.1 percent and under ELV, with several Cr(VI) compounds on the REACH Authorisation list.
ReadLead (Pb)
Lead
A toxic heavy metal restricted under RoHS at 0.1 percent per homogeneous material, with many exemptions, and also controlled under ELV and the REACH Candidate List.
ReadMercury (Hg)
Mercury
A toxic heavy metal restricted under RoHS at 0.1 percent and under ELV, and controlled worldwide by the Minamata Convention and the EU Mercury Regulation.
ReadNickel (Ni)
Nickel
A metal used in plating, alloys and batteries. As a common skin sensitiser, its release from articles in prolonged skin contact is limited by REACH Annex XVII, and it is declarable in automotive lists.
ReadPFAS: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
PFAS
A class of thousands of extremely persistent synthetic chemicals, nicknamed the 'forever chemicals', now facing a broad proposed EU-wide restriction alongside existing POP and REACH controls.
ReadPhthalates (DEHP, BBP, DBP, DIBP)
Phthalates
Four plasticisers added to RoHS in 2015, each restricted at 0.1 percent per homogeneous material, also listed under REACH as substances of very high concern.
ReadPolybrominated Biphenyls (PBB)
PBB
A family of brominated flame retardants restricted under RoHS at 0.1 percent and now largely phased out of use.
ReadPolybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDE)
PBDE
A family of brominated flame retardants restricted under RoHS at 0.1 percent, with DecaBDE additionally controlled under the POP Regulation and REACH Annex XVII.
ReadTetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
TBBPA
The most widely used brominated flame retardant, mostly reacted into printed circuit board laminates and now on the REACH Candidate List as a carcinogen.
Read