Apple is being sued by the Center for Environmental Health based on a recent report by environmental group Greenpeace which found dangerous chemicals in iPhones.

The report found that the earphone wiring pieces found in Apple’s new mobile device contained high levels of “phthalates,” which are, “a family of compounds made from alcohols and phthalic anhydride. They are oily, colorless, odorless liquids that do not evaporate readily,” according to the Phthalate Information Center.
The levels of phthalates found in the iPhone wiring pieces were found to be higher than that allowed in children’s toys in both California and the European Union.

Apple has 60 days to respond to the allegations before the lawsuit can be filed by the CEH.
Though there is no documented evidence of verifiably hazardous side effects resulting from exposure to phthalates, California is currently discussing the Proposition 65 law, which would require products containing phthalates to be packaged with warning labels, alerting customers to the potential risks.

However, The Phthalate Information Center maintains, “the trace levels of phthalates found are well within [Environmental Protection Agency] safety levels and therefore should not pose a concern for human health.”
Phthalates are found within nearly every plastic product today; reader “Mark” of popular technology site Engadget sarcastically commented, “[Proposition] 65 requires contact or potential contact to require labeling - even cheese slices in plastic and crosswalk button need labeling.”

The Center for Environmental Health has yet to conduct its own research on phthalate levels found in iPhones; Charles Margulis, the communications director for the CEH, said they plan on completing research in the matter during the 60 days in which Apple is allowed to respond to the claims.

Many feel that lawsuits directed at Apple as of late are simply attempts to exploit the success of the technology giant; as Engadget writer Nilay Patel sarcastically noted, “CEH would rather have Apple revise the iPhone to be cleaner than get massive damages, and CEH doesn’t want other, greedier parties to get in the way.”

This can be seen in the recent flood of lawsuits filed over “bricked” iPhones, meaning iPhones that were irreparably damaged when Apple released an update for the phone that damaged the software of phones that were wrongfully modified by users. Earlier this month, Timothy Smith, a California resident, submitted a class-action lawsuit requesting an injunction against Apple until they begin releasing iPhones with the software unlocked to consumers.

Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs has been trying to make the company “greener” as of late; in response to earlier allegations that Apple’s computers contained hazardous chemicals, Apple began constructing its computers in a more environmentally-friendly way removing chemicals including lead, cadmium, and other dangerous compounds.

Though Proposition 65 has not been passed in California at this time, restrictions on products containing phthalates in the European Union could potentially cause Apple to consider removing or lowering the phthalate levels of the earpieces in iPhones, as distribution of iPhones in Europe will soon begin.

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Entry was posted on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007 at 8:01 am under Announcements, Apple, Mac, MacBook, Steve Jobs, Updates, iPhone.  Print This Post

Read more entries by Triston McIntyre.