million tons of chromium residues has been dumped on
open land and has polluted the groundwater.10,11 The inappropriate
treatment of electronic waste has created serious
air pollution and water pollution problems. The compensation
paid out as a result of HW pollution is about €2 million
annually, and the number of lawsuits is increasing. During
the outbreak of SARS in China in the spring of 2003, the
suddenly increased levels of medical waste were not able to
be treated safely because of the lack of treatment facilities
for medical waste