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Chemical Management in Production Activities |
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The Hitachi Cable Group handles approximately 500 kinds of chemicals in its production activities. Hitachi Cable
utilizes an Internet-based management system for all chemicals contained in raw materials and other purchased
goods to consistently and accurately monitor the amount of chemicals handled, released and transferred by its
production sites and on a Companywide basis. The Company makes use of the database compiled through such
monitoring not only in scrutinizing itself, but also in formulating its response to chemical substances-related
laws and regulations, which are rapidly being established throughout the world. Moreover, the database is used
in activities aimed at reducing the amount of chemicals used by the Company. Through these activities, we are
working to ensure that chemical management is performed appropriately Groupwide, thereby preventing ecosystem
destruction and environmental pollution.
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Chemicals Emission Control |
The total amount of PRTR Law*-regulated chemicals
handled by Hitachi Cable in FY2010 was 4,922 tons. The
amount released was 88 tons, while the amount transferred
was 177 tons. The amount handled decreased
year on year, owing to a decline in the use of lead—a raw
material for certain cable products—caused by a change
in the Company's lineup of cable products from FY2009.
Also, reflecting a decrease in VOC air emissions, the
amount released decreased. On the other hand, the
amount transferred showed a year-on-year increase. This
was caused by the inclusion of Hitachi Cable Film Device,
Ltd. in the scope of calculation from FY2010. In more
specific terms, the amount of chemicals transferred (disposed
of) by Hitachi Cable Film Device was newly factored
into the calculation for the period under review.
Amount of PRTR Law-Regulated Chemicals Released and Transferred in FY2010
| Substance
number |
Name of Designated
Chemical Substance |
Amount Released |
Amount Transferred |
| Into Air |
Into Water |
As Sewage |
As Waste |
1 |
Zinc compound
(water-soluble) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.1 |
9 |
Adipic acid bis
(2-ethylhexl) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3.1 |
25 |
Antimony and its compounds |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3.6 |
29 |
4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol
[bisphenol A] |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
30 |
Condensation polymer of
4,4'-isopropylidenediphenol
and 1-chloro-2,3-epoxypropane
[bisphenol A epoxy
resin] |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
23.9 |
32 |
2-imidazolidinethione |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.3 |
40 |
Ethylbenzene |
4.4 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
5.1 |
43 |
Ethylene glycol |
0.1 |
2.6 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
63 |
Xylene |
19.3 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
14.8 |
64 |
Silver and its water-soluble
compounds |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
67 |
Cresol |
1.2 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
4.6 |
108 |
Non-organic cyanide
compound (excluding complex
salt and cyanate) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
115 |
N- N-Cyclohexyl-2-
benzothiazolesulfenamide |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.2 |
120 |
3,3'-Dichloro-4,4'-
diaminodiphenylmethane |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
172 |
N,N-dimethylformamide |
8.1 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
30.7 |
181 |
Thio uric acid |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
37.0 |
202 |
Tetrahydromethylphthalic
anhydride |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
204 |
Tetramethylthiuram disulfide |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
207 |
Copper soluble acid
(excluding complex salt) |
0.0 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
1.9 |
224 |
1,3,5-trimethyl benzene |
0.6 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
227 |
Toluene |
46.9 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
3.9 |
230 |
Lead and its compounds |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.8 |
231 |
Nickel |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
232 |
Nickel compounds |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
1.8 |
252 |
Arsenic and its non-organic
compounds |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
5.3 |
266 |
Phenol |
1.5 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
15.3 |
269 |
Phthalic acid Di-n-octyl |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.7 |
270 |
Phthalic acid Di-n-butyl |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
272 |
Phthalic acid bis (2-ethyl hexl) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
8.7 |
283 |
Hydrogen fluoride and its
water-soluble salt |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.4 |
3.5 |
304 |
Boron and its compounds |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
1.1 |
308 |
Poly(oxyethylene) octylphenyl
ether |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
4.5 |
309 |
Poly(oxyethylene) nonylphenyl
ether |
0.2 |
0.2 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
312 |
Phthalic anhydride |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
60 other substances |
1.0 |
1.0 |
0.0 |
3.2 |
Total |
83.6 |
4.0 |
0.6 |
176.6 |
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* Chemicals included in "60 other substances" above were handled in
amounts of less than one ton during FY2010.
* Figures were rounded up to the first decimal place. Accordingly, the sum
of these figures may not equal the total figures.
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Reducing VOC Air Emissions |
As part of efforts to reduce chemical emissions, Hitachi
Cable is promoting activities aimed at reducing emissions
of 41 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air from
its domestic production sites by 33% from the FY2001
level.
There were 16 VOCs handled by each Hitachi Cable
domestic production site in an amount in excess of one
ton during FY2010. Air emissions of these VOCs totaled
386 tons, a 47% reduction from the FY2001 level. This
substantial reduction is attributable to our new n-decane
absorption collector, which started operations in January
2009 and effectively reduced n-decane emissions into
the air from 189 tons in FY2009 to 85 tons in FY2010.
Meanwhile, emissions of isopropyl alcohol, used for copper
surface reduction treatment and oil cleansing, remain
high. Hitachi Cable is now working to reduce isopropyl
alcohol emissions through the transfer of production processes
to a facility that is expected to help reduce the
emissions of this VOC, and through the introduction of
more efficient and effective recovery methods.
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Storage Status of Used Electric Equipment Contaminated with PCB |
Each production site of Hitachi Cable stores used electric
equipment contaminated with polychlorobiphenyl (PCB).
During FY2010, 30 contaminated capacitor units, which
have been stored by the Densen Works and the Hitaka
Works, were detoxified by the Hokkaido Facility of the
Japan Environmental Safety Corporation. Hitachi Cable
will store and manage applicable equipment waiting for
detoxification in a safe and secure manner.
Equipment Stored
| Site |
Transformer |
Capacitor |
Others
(fluorescent lamp stabilizers, etc.) |
| Densen Works, Hitachi Cable, Ltd. |
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0 |
1 |
Stabilizer: 391 pieces; waste oil: 54 liters |
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0 |
26 |
Stabilizer: 40 pieces
Fluorescent capacitors: 2,356 pieces
Cotton waste: 13 cans |
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0 |
64 |
Stabilizer: 21 pieces
Fluorescent capacitors: 655 pieces
Cotton waste: 6 packs
Waste oil: 50 kg |
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1 |
382
(Including 17
currently in use) |
Stabilizer: 573 pieces
Waste oil: 4 cans
Cotton waste: 3 cans |
| Equipment Factory, Hitachi Cable MEC-Tech,
Ltd. |
0 |
0 |
Stabilizer: 185 pieces |
| Kisai Factory, Hitachi Alloy, Ltd. |
0 |
135 |
Stabilizer: 24 pieces |
| Ishioka Works, Tonichi Kyosan Cable, Ltd. |
0 |
6 |
0 |
| Headquarters Plant, Tohoku Rubber Co., Ltd. |
0 |
9 |
0 |
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| *1 | As of March 31, 2010 |
| *2 | In addition to those shown in the table above, there are 40 transformers, 4 capacitors and 6 high-voltage reactors, all of which have been contaminated with trace PCB. |
Equipment Detoxified
| Site |
Capacitor |
| Hitachi Cable |
Densen Works |
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14 |
| Hitachi Cable |
Hitaka Works |
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16 |
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