Apple threatened with legal action over iPhone pollutants

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California pressure group, the Centre for Environmental Health has given Apple 60 days grace pending legal action in response to a Greenpeace report that claims its iPhone contains hazardous materials.

The 60-day notice period - mandated by Californian law as a precursor to legal action - was issued yesterday, the same day Greenpeace published its iPhone report.

The Greenpeace report publishes test findings that have found Apple is using chemicals, including "phthalates" in the iPhone's vinyl plastic earphone wiring, at levels that are prohibited under European Union law and in San Francisco within children's toys.

The Centre's threat of legal action against Apple is based California's Proposition 65 law, which requires products that can expose consumers to phthalates or other chemicals that are reproductive toxins or carcinogens to carry a warning label.

Dr David Santillo, senior scientist at Greenpeace Research Laboratories, co-ordinated the project and deconstructed the iPhone for analysis.

He said two of the phthalate plasticisers found at high levels in the headphone cable are classified 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."

"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," added Zeina Alhajj, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner.

This is the third time that Greenpeace has found hazardous materials an Apple product since 2006. Similar analyses of a MacBook Pro and an iPod Nano have also revealed the presence of brominated flame-retardants and PVC in some components.

And this week's report also criticised Apple's practice of gluing or soldering the iPhone's battery in place, making it difficult to remove for recycling purposes.

The California Centre is expected to call for Apple to clearly label the hazardous materials in the iPhone unit or make plans for alternate manufacturing processes. The Centre said it had not received any contact from Apple, nor had the vendor made any public comment about the possibility of legal action at the time of writing.

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