What is a major pollutant of concern (POC) from a printed circuit board shop?

In a printed circuit board shop, copper is a major pollutant of concern due to its widespread use in the manufacturing of circuit boards. Copper is essential for conducting electricity, making it a primary material in these applications. However, during the manufacturing process, excess copper and copper compounds can be released into the environment, contributing to water and soil contamination.

Additionally, copper is toxic to aquatic organisms, which raises environmental concerns when it enters waterways through runoff or improper disposal. This makes it a key pollutant that regulators focus on, necessitating stringent controls and management practices in the circuit board manufacturing industry to mitigate its environmental impact. Proper waste management and treatment processes are critical to reducing copper discharges and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

While other metals such as lead, zinc, and cadmium also pose environmental risks and are of concern in various contexts, copper’s prevalent use and ease of release in this specific industry highlight its significant role as a pollutant of concern in printed circuit board production.