 Wang-Jung-chang, ruling Democratic Progressive Party Legislator-at Large in Taiwan, said in a press conference (04/14/2005) that batteries sold in Taiwan originating from SW Asia and China have dangerously higher levels of mercury than Taiwan’s allowed level of 5ppm maximum. He said many of these batteries are illegally smuggled into the country. (He quoted research data, seen in the above chart, conducted by Yuan Ze University’s Center of Environmental Sciences.) He said about 74% of batteries sold in Taiwan are from SE Asia or China. Only about 15% of the batteries in Taiwan are recycled and the remainder end up in incinerators or landfills. He called on the Cabinet-level Environmental Protection Administration to conduct a nationwide census on batteries.
He also noted that U.S. and Japanese-made batteries have average mercury content of only 0.13 ppm. +
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