Who pays the price

The Poisonous Pearl

Occupational chemical poisoning in the electronics industry in the Pearl River Delta, People’s Republic of China

Publication

Pauline Overeem

Jason Chan (LAC)

Pikki Fung (LESN)

5 September 2016

The report ‘The Poisonous Pearl focuses on the experiences of (former) workers in the electronics industry in China who are victims of chemical poisoning. The health of all the workers in the report was damaged by exposure to hazardous chemicals such as benzene and n-hexane. All were working in large or small factories in the Pearl River Delta-region of China, an area well known as being a global hub for the production of consumer electronics (ICT). Manufacturers based in this region supply to international companies such as Apple, Asus, Canon, Foxconn, Huawei, Philips, Samsung and Sony, amongst others.

GoodElectronics is calling upon the electronics industry to adopt safer and more sustainable manufacturing practices and proactively reduce and eliminate chemical and physical hazards by developing and adopting safer alternatives. All these changes are necessary to protect and promote human rights, workers’ rights, and the environment.