One of the conundrums of the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Regulations (TDG) is the requirement to have an ERAP for a UN number that is not listed in Schedule 1 of TDG.

The problem we run into is that Schedule 1 is only up to the 11th Edition of the UN Recommendations on the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods (model regulations). In section 1.3.1, item 39 in the table of standards indicates that TDG is at the 14th Edition of the model regulations. But since the 13th Edition of the model regulations, the UN has issued over 130 new classifications.

But section 1.10 of TDG states:

A person may use the appropriate classification set out in the ICAO Technical Instructions, the IMDG Code or the UN Recommendations to transport dangerous goods within Canada by a road vehicle, a railway vehicle or a ship on a domestic voyage if these Regulations or the document from which the classification is taken does not forbid their transport.

This means that if the consignor cannot find a classification in TDG, then the consignor can use a classification from the model regulations, ICAO Technical Instructions (TIs) or the IMDG Code. And this is where the conundrum lies. TDG section 7.1(12) states:

Any substance that would require an ERAP if its classification were determined in accordance with Part 2, Classification, requires an approved ERAP if its classification from the ICAO Technical Instructions, the IMDG Code or the UN Recommendations is used as permitted under section 1.10 of Part 1, Coming Into Force, Repeal, Interpretation, General Provisions and Special Cases.

For example, as the consignor, you have an IBC (1,500 L) of sodium cyanide solution, UN3414 to ship. As UN3414 is not listed in TDG, you go to the model regulations for the classification. But the model regulations don’t have an ERAP index, so how do you determine if an ERAP is required? Or, you have 2 x 20 L drums of iodine, UN3495, to be shipped and you use the TIs for your classification. The TIs don’t have an ERAP index, so how do you determine if an ERAP is required?

To determine if an ERAP is required for your shipment where the classification is not in TDG, go to: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/tdg/clear-newerapnumbers-87.htm and scroll to the table at the bottom of the page to see if your product is listed and what the ERAP index is. Please bear in mind that all the requirements of Part 7 apply to the numbers listed in this table.

During the holiday season, we bought ourselves a new cell phone. Once back home, we wondered what to do with our old cell phone. We found out that mobile phones and accessories contain a variety of toxic materials including lead, nickel, mercury, manganese, lithium, zinc, arsenic, antimony, beryllium and copper. Most of these metals are highly toxic to humans and the environment. There are several metals and chemicals in cell phones that are very hazardous to health.

Here is a description of the ill effects of each of these metals and chemicals that are present in cell phones – a reason why you should give your old phone for recycling, and not throw it in the garbage bin.

The effects of lead poisoning are well known. If absorbed into the bloodstream in sufficient quantities lead, which is used in the circuit boards of mobile phones, causes serious liver and kidney damage in adults, and neurological damage in children.

Nickel, a substantial quantity of which is present in handset batteries, causes cancer. Similarly, mercury (not mentioned in the table) is another dangerous substance found in batteries, especially in older devices. Even a small amount of mercury can harm humans adversely. Though the use of mercury has been reduced in cell phones to a great extent, it is present in fairly large quantities in older phones.

Magnesium induces neurochemical changes and has been identified as a contributing factor to developing Alzheimer’s. Manganese, as the table shows, is used in making circuit boards and case of mobile phones.

Although Li-ion batteries are free of heavy metals (lithium has a low atomic number), lithium’s high instability can create environmental problems. When exposed to water, which is present in most landfills, the metal can burn, causing underground fires that are difficult to extinguish.

Zinc is good for health in small quantities and is often used in medicines. However, zinc products contain another metal called cadmium. This is because zinc and cadmium are chemically similar and often occur together in nature. Exposure to high levels of cadmium over a long time can lead to kidney failure.

Arsenic compound Gallium Arsenide is used in LEDs. Arsenic is a well known poison. When the concentration of Arsenic in water increases beyond 10 parts per million it becomes dangerous. In fact, Arsenic poisoning is common in our part of the world.

Antimony, used mainly as a fire retardant, is known to be very poisonous, and the effects of antimony poisoning are similar to those of arsenic poisoning.

Beryllium, used for cooling (heat sink), is corrosive to tissue and can cause a chronic life-threatening allergic disease called berylliosis in some people.

Copper fortunately is non toxic and is in-fact necessary for a healthy life. Apart from copper, cell phones also contain small amounts of precious metals like iridium, silver and gold, which make it attractive for recycling companies to be in this business.

How to discard cellphones

Today, most major handset manufacturers such as Samsung, Nokia, Apple and LG run mobile recycling programs. You can simply walk into the store of any of these companies and give your old phone, and you can be sure the phone will be recycled properly. Or ask your municipality for any recycling program they may have in place for mobile phones.