Greenpeace finds toxic chemicals in iPhone

Environmentalists are threatening to sue the United States-based Apple if the company does not make its iPhones more environment-friendly or warn
buyers of toxins in the devices.

Apple is the world-renowned maker of iPods and Macintosh computers, besides iPhones.

The Center for Environmental Health, in Oakland, California, the United States, sent Apple a notice on October 15, 2007, after environmental activist group Greenpeace released a scientific analysis of how Earth-friendly iPhones are.

In a video posted on the Greenpeace website, scientist David Santillo alleged that iPhones contain dangerous levels of bromine, chlorine and phthalates, chemical compounds used to increase the flexibility of plastic.

David Santillo says in the video, “Electronics companies have traditionally relied on the cool clean image of their devices in order to sell them. What we have found over the years is that once you get behind that shiny cover, the story is very different.”

The level of phthalate esters, a chemical linked to birth defects, in plastic coating of iPhone earphones wires is greater than that allowed in toys or childcare items sold in Europe, according to Greenpeace.

If a pregnant woman winds and unwinds that cord a number of times each day, like we all would, she gets exposed to this chemical, Michael Green, chief executive of the Center for Environmental Health, told news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The notice sent to Apple company and California’s state attorney-general gives the Center for Environmental Health, the non-profit environmental law group, legal standing to sue Apple in 60 days.

The notice demands that Apple must put warnings on iPhone packaging, but does not require the company to recall devices or alter the composition of models yet to be sold.

Michael Green explains, “There are chemicals in some of the parts that come with the iPhone that are well-known in California to cause birth defects. We want those chemicals out.”

According to him, the experience of the Center for Environmental Health in “hundreds of different cases” is that companies prefer to get rid of offending
chemicals rather than taint images of brands with health warnings. “There is no sense in warning people when companies can just use different chemicals to make gadgets, so no one is exposed to toxins.”

Environmentalists argue that the “greening” of Apple is long overdue, with the company lagging behind its rivals regarding eliminating toxins and supporting recycling or safe disposal of products.

Greenpeace also criticised Apple for having batteries glued and soldered into iPhones, making it harder to replace, recycle or properly dispose of the
chemically hazardous power packs.

Meanwhile, Apple has reacted to the report by Greenpeace saying that, “like all Apple products worldwide, iPhone complies with RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances), the world’s toughest restrictions on toxic substances in electronics. As we have said, Apple will voluntarily eliminate the use of PVC and BFRs by the end of 2008.”