Is the iPhone packed with hazardous materials?

Could Apple's iPhone be hazardous to your health?  Greenpeace thinks so.

Greenpeace has issued a damning statement on its website saying that its independent tests on the iPhone reveal that the handset is made of hazardous materials, "some of which have been eliminated by other mobile phone makers".

The hazardous substances detected in the handset are toxic brominated compounds (indicating the prescence of brominated flame retardants) and hazardous PVC, which Nokia has removed entirely from its mobile handset manufacturing process. Sony Ericsson and Motorola have also removed "some of the worst chemicals from their phones", Greenpeace reports.

In a two-minute video, Greenpeace reveals how a lab technician dismantled the iPhone to reveal levels of bromine, chlorine and something called "phthalates," a material that seems to make handsets more flexible and has been known to damage the testes, liver and lungs of lab rats. The iPhone's antenna was found to have a particularly high rate of bromine, while the headphones contain PVC.

With iPhone prepping for a European launch, you'll have to consider more than just battery life, memory and calling plans. Dr. David Santillo, Senior Scientist at the Greenpeace Research Laboratories, speaks of something called a "plasticiser", one of the hazardous materials found in the iPhone.

"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," Santillo says.

Comments

[Peter Holyoake]

Sensationalising again are we?
Before we get too excited about CHEMICALS in our 'phone, I would like to ease back on the hype. Does anyone remember cars with plastic seats, plastic mac's etc.? Yes - all PVC. This plastic is still in widespread use - in shoes, rainhoods for baby buggies and so on. A material called DMT, where the T stands for Tere-phthalate is the raw material for polyester. Who does NOT have clothing containing polyester? These CHEMICALS have been part of our lives for a long time.

[chris]

apple eh?

lock you out - lock you down - tie you to horrible companys like at+t...
and now they are going anti green

talk about looking to the future
how stylish is that?