Is The iPhone Toxic???
10.15.07 - 02:26pm
Greenpeace and Apple have not seen eye to eye for a long time in spite of environmental Nobel Prize winner Al Gore being on the board of directors. They have clashed many times over Apple’s recycling methods and their “take back” policies claiming they are not doing enough. Greenpeace has continued to give Apple low ratings in their reports on how green companies are in spite of Jobs drafting a letter to the contrary. Now they are clashing over chemicals found in the iPhone.
Four of the Phthalate Plasticisers found in the iPhone during tests Greenpeace conducted are considered toxic. In Europe they fall under the classification of “toxic to reproduction, category 2″ and are banned from all use in toys or childcare articles sold there.
The Greenpeace report stated ” A high level of chlorine was detected in the plastic coating of the headphone cables, along with phthalates plasticisers at a total of over 1.5% by weight, both characteristic of PVC. Although the use of PVC and phthalate esters is not currently prohibited or even regulated under RoHS, it is worth noting that none of the four phthalates found in this study are permitted for use in components of toys or childcare articles sold in Europe.”
Also found in the iPhone was Bromium a flame retardant that “can act as a significant source of toxic and persistent brominated pollutants once the iPhone handset enters the waste stream.”
Greenpeace said that Steve Jobs is not living up to the letter he drafted in May announcing a “Greener Apple”. In the letter Jobs said that “In many cases, Apple is ahead of, or will soon be ahead of, most of its competitors in these areas.” Greenpeace pointed out that Nokia has removed all PVC from their phones and Motorola and Sony Ericson no longer use Bromine.
Greenpeace wants Apple to be at least as green as its competitors.
While this news may have little impact in America, they may have a bigger impact in Europe where environmental restrictions are much higher.
“Apple missed a key opportunity when it rolled out the iPhone in June. There is no reason why the iPhone could not have been made without toxins like vinyl plastics and brominated flame retardants as Nokia is already doing,” said Rick Hind of Greenpeace.
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