1 billion PCs now in use

According to Gartner Consulting, the technology analyst, the number of PCs in use across the world has passed the 1 billion mark.

These are mainly in mature markets, especially the US, Europe and Japan, but the share of PCs in emerging markets is set to increase.

Gartner estimates that PC use is growing by 12% annually, meaning that by 2014 the number of active PCs will have grown to 2 billion, and this does not include laptops.

Gartner has published its findings in the Gartner report Forecast: PC Installed Base, Worldwide, 2004-2012.

The report also suggests that around 180 million PCs will be replaced this year, and many of the discarded machines will find their way into landfill sites, despite the danger of contamination.

PCs contain a host of dangerous chemicals, including lead, cadmium, barium, mercury, tin, arsenic, chromium, selenium, manganese, and silver.

With the rate of PC usage growing rapidly, disposal of obsolete machines looks set to become a major issue.