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While the camera has become an indispensable part of today's life, little do locals know that it is also a source of dangerous pollution, which poses a risk to public health as well as the environment.

The Shanghai Hazardous Waste Management Center yesterday gave details about pollution from the "photography industry," like used film and toxic sewage generated in film printing, and called for setting up a recycling network for "film waste."

Statistics show that the city consumes 14 million rolls of film each year, and accordingly, nearly three tons of untreated sewage spawned in film printing is directly discharged into local sewage pipes every day, and eventually released into the mouth of the Yangtze River.

In addition, residents callously discard their used film in garbage bins.

Also, some small printing houses illegally sell their sewage to fly-by-night operators, who extract useful chemicals from them and dump the toxic remnants into local waterways, the center reported.

"Used film and sewage from film-printing are hazardous wastes which need special collection and treatment," said Zhong Shenghao of the center, adding, "Sewage poses a risk to the water environment."

Doctors point out that the metal silver and aniline in the film-developing sewage can harm human organs, such as liver and kidney, and even trigger cancer.

Zhong acknowledged the absence of an efficient network to collect the "film waste," and the lack of facilities to treat them in an ecological-friendly way. "Since such waste is widely distributed, it's difficult to reclaim all of it. Besides, we lack funds to treat the waste," he added.

Locals seem unaware of this "new" waste. "I heard that the sewage is poisonous, but what else can I do if don't throw it in the gutter?" asked an owner of a small film-printing house in Changning District.

Big film companies are also struggling to find a better way to handle the polluting waste.

"Contractors for our franchise are obliged to take charge of the whole operation, including waste treatment. We only require outlets to use our equipment and adopt uniform decoration style," said Jenny Hua, spokeswoman for Kodak's Consumer Imaging Department, which is in charge of Kodak Express outlets, Shanghai's biggest film-developer.

Zhong said the center has done research on reclamation and treatment of "film waste," suggesting that a little surcharge on consumers will help raise a treatment fund.

(eastday.com October 16, 2002)