Greenpeace says Iphone stinks
Hazardous contents
ENVIONMENTALISTS at Greenpeace say they tested Apple's Iphone and found it contains hazardous chemicals.
The outfit said it wondered if Apple chief Steve Jobs, would keep his promise to green Apple. After the activists criticised Apple previously, Jobs said: " Apple is ahead of, or will soon be ahead of, most of its competitors" on environmental issues.
Greenpeace says it was therefore a bit miffed when then Apple phone launched with no mention of any green features.
"So we bought a new Iphone in June and sent it our Research Laboratories in the UK" write the activists here.
The tests uncovered two types of hazardous substances in the device, there are: toxic brominated compounds (indicating the prescence of brominated flame retardants, and hazardous PVC.
Dr. David Santillo, Senior Scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories, said, "Two of the phthalate plasticisers found at high levels in the headphone cable are classified in Europe as 'toxic to reproduction, category 2' because of their long-recognised ability to interfere with sexual development in mammals.
"While they are not prohibited in mobile phones, these phthalates are banned from use in all toys or childcare articles sold in Europe. Apple should eliminate the use of these chemicals from its products range."
Greenpeace International toxics campaigner. Zeina Alhajj, said
Steve Jobs had "missed the call" on making the Iphone his first step towards
greening Apple's products. "It seems that Apple is far from leading the way for
a green electronics industry as competitors, like Nokia, already sell mobile
phones free of PVC".
Greenpeace also criticised Apple for not having a global free take-back policy making it more likely that millions of the noxious phones will end up in landfill.
It says the phone will have to be more environmentally friendly for its upcoming European launch.
However, according to reports, Greenpeace's revelations could yet see Apple sued by green agencies such as the Center for Environmental Health in California.
Greenpeace's findings are detailed in this report: "Missed call: the iPhone's hazardous chemicals". µ
Comments
phthalate plasticisers 'toxic to reproduction'
Shhhhh! Keep quiet! With any luck this might make this the last generation of fanboiz.Has Lord jobs been going to the RIAA school of maintaining a long term customer base?
Not surprised.
Well Iphone is designed to to make money. Unfortunately cost of not using PVC is larger than the reduced income because of use of PVC. Sad, but tr$ue.iPhone
Everybody is suing Apple for the iPhone.Because of this because of that.
this is so childish and ridiculous.
I am thinking to sue the people who sue apple
lets just rename the country United Suing of America.it is more accurate.
Toxic?
So Greenpeace hates the iphone? But it touts CFls? Umm ... I think I'll take my chances with PVCs, and leave Greenpeaceniks the mercury to digest. CFLs are a lot more hazardess. What hypocrits!conserving materials
I think Green Peace may have been piggybacking on Apple’s high media profile with the iphone. It’s hard to imagine Apple is the worst of the computer industry. For 20 years their consumer computers have been all-in-one boxes.Imagine what that represents in saved packaging, shipping and handling, saved plastics, one power supply instead of two and how many kilometres of cable? They also had speakers etc built in instead of separate boxes for everything as with PCs. They are probably miles in front by now with conservation, recycling notwithstanding.
All-in-one?
> For 20 years their consumer computers have been all-in-one boxes.Yes, clearly that'll *reduce* landfill. When only one part fails it means the whole thing usually gets skipped. It usually means no reuse of the monitor, drives, or anything else in the box either.
All in ones are useful from a space saving perspective, but from any other perspective they suck bigtime.
My last PC was built in the case of it's predecessor from three generations back, using the PSU of the generation before, the original floppy drive, and old monitor. None of that reuse is possible with an all-in-one, particularly not when you're dealing with folk as skilled at computer build/repair as the average machead.
Uhuh
So they found some PVC in the headphone cable, but none in the Nokia phone, how about checking Nokia accesories also then.On the PC level, Apple is actually above all other manufacturers in the industry standard IEEE EPEAT test for environmental impact, and is the manufacturer closest to reaching the gold standard! Nice of Greenpeace to ignore that!
My All in one mac has lasted longer than my PC. And Its nice to see you recycle all those non-toxic elements of your PC, but toss out all the toxic parts...... well done, you must be so green....... :)