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Details of Apple/CEH toxin lawsuit emerge

updated 05:30 pm EDT, Mon October 15, 2007

Details of Apple/CEH suit

More details have emerged regarding the Center for Environmental Health's lawsuit against Apple over hazardous materials allegedly included with the iPhone. The suit is based on a Greenpeace report from earlier this month that shows the presence of PVCs and brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in the handheld. Specifically, the CEH complaint alleges that the iPhone headphone cables contain DEHP (Di-ethylhexyl Phthalate) and DBP (Di-n-butyl Phthalate). CEH says that usage of the headphones results in human exposure via dermal absorption directly through the skin, ingestion via hand to mouth contact after touching or using the product, and ingestion when consumers "place the products in their mouths during normal use."

CEH cites California's Proposition 65 law, under which products that can expose consumers to phthalates or other chemicals that are reproductive toxins or carcinogens must carry a warning label. The iPhone carries no such alert label, with CEH stating "No clear and reasonable warning is provided with these products regarding the carcinogenic or reproductive hazards of DEHP or DBP."

In the violation complaint, CEH threatens to file a citizen enforcement lawsuit against Apple unless the company enters into a binding written agreement to recall iPhones already sold, provide clear and reasonable warnings for future shipped iPhones, and pay an appropriate civil penalty.

by MacNN Staff

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Peter Bonte
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/15, 05:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
iPods

iPod and iPhone headphone cables are not the same?

mgpalma
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2000

0

10/15, 05:48pm | report spam | close Reply |
IF it's true

That the phones content contains materials that violate California law than that was a HUGE oversight on Apple's part. Is it possible a manufacturer (whoever it's out-sourced to) could build something with illegal materials without a company knowing about it? IF it's true how do you prove responsibility?

Ganesha
Senior User

Joined: Jul 2002

0

10/15, 05:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
Phthalates

If they are scared of phthalates they better stay away from almost all plastic products.

rjwill246
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2003

0

10/15, 05:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
CEH--

The CEH is a company that uses Prop 65 to extort money from companies. Not long ago they tried to sue a manufacturer of colored sand used by children because of the silica in, that might cause silicosis. SAND!!!! That means that sand on beaches, golf courses etc should have been labeled under the Prop 65 law.

Note, that they have launched into this suit without checking the other idiots, Greenpeace's, findings. Lawyers and charlatans like these are seeing Apple as their personal banking system.

I hope these people are trodden on STAT, just like the cockroaches they are. Pitiful.

cebritt
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2000

0

10/15, 06:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Simple Fix

Apple just needs to put a sticker on the iPhone like they do on those little moisture absorbing packets: DON'T EAT THIS!

Stegabot
Junior Member

Joined: Feb 2001

0

10/15, 06:27pm | report spam | close Reply |
Stupid

I think it is really time for us to push for tort reform before these stupid lawsuits bring irreparable economic harm to this country .

About the headphones , it is a scare tactic to get money from Apple and to force them to submit to Greenpeace demands .It's corporate blackmail and it should be treated as such .

Glasspusher
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2000

0

10/15, 07:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
note to self

Don't chew on iPhone any more

lockhartt
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2000

+1

10/15, 07:35pm | report spam | close Reply |
warning

The Surgeon General has determined that smoking iPhones can be hazardous to your health :)

robttwo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2005

-1

10/15, 08:45pm | report spam | close Reply |
greenpiece

The green in green piece has always stood for money, not serious environnmental concerns. These grubbing b******* are no different than ambulance-chasers, except they chase "concerns" instead.

I would like to see AL Gore step up, and tell Green piece they are full of s***. Organic, of course.

But then, Green piece might tell Al he's full of s*** too.

Mr. Strat
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2002

-1

10/15, 08:56pm | report spam | close Reply |
Eat s***, greeners

I wish the greeners and Greenpeace would shut the f*** up. Nobody asked them to poke their noses in.

Eriamjh
Addicted to MacNN

Joined: Oct 2001

0

10/15, 11:07pm | report spam | close Reply |
Remember...

"Do not eat iPod shuffle".

"Do not eat iPhone headphones."

horvatic
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2002

0

10/16, 01:25am | report spam | close Reply |
I won't eat an iPhone

I won't eat an iPhone, I promise. STUPIDITY at it's WORST! Picking on Apple because it is getting a lot of headlines is what this amounts too. Nothing to do with hazardous chemicals that aren't in any other phone on the market today. Notice how they conveniently overlook this point and just zoom in on Apple. Go ahead and try and eat your radio and see how echo friendly it is. ;-)

chadpengar
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2001

0

10/16, 01:37am | report spam | close Reply |
just stay awayfrom Kali

This is easy. Just don't sell the iPhone in Kalifornia. See how fast things get changed :-)

lamewing
Forum Regular

Joined: Aug 2004

0

10/16, 08:13am | report spam | close Reply |
hmmmm

These suits that are brought against Apple and others would have a great deal more validity if they folks suing them were not trying to get monetary compensation, but instead only sued to force a company to stop a practice and cover court costs.

If this were the case, many of these suits would not be the target of so much mud-slinging done by the Apple fanatics that live and breath Apple...

lamewing
Forum Regular

Joined: Aug 2004

0

10/16, 08:15am | report spam | close Reply |
hey horvatic

If you had read the article you would have learned that the chemical in question is in the headphone cables and has the potential for absorption into your body simply for the physical exposure to the cable in day-to-day use.

How about keeping the comments more reasonable and drop the sarcasm. It would be nice is all the macheads would drop the sarcasm and post in a semi-intelligent manner.

lamewing
Forum Regular

Joined: Aug 2004

0

10/16, 08:17am | report spam | close Reply |
mr. strat

How about avoiding the use of vulgarities. Why did you feel it necessary to post such nonsense?

starwarrior
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2006

0

10/16, 08:27am | report spam | close Reply |
Time for Court

Those interested in a class action against these people please respond.

They are costing us money with unsubstantiated and rumor mongering claims.

ttrostel
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2007

0

10/16, 09:26am | report spam | close Reply |
Transdermal exposure

Ok ... you're highly unlikely to become sick from wearing your iPod earphones. Please refer to the following site:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts9.html

Now ... if you plan to use your earphones as a pacifier note that companies have voluntarily removed these substances.

Apple may be working on a safer iPacifier for you and will get back to you when that product has been safety tested.

Thank you for your concern.

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

10/16, 09:43am | report spam | close Reply |
Re: if its true

That the phones content contains materials that violate California law than that was a HUGE oversight on Apple's part. Is it possible a manufacturer (whoever it's out-sourced to) could build something with illegal materials without a company knowing about it? IF it's true how do you prove responsibility?

That would be Apple's responsibility. It's their product, they're responsible for it. They could sue the manufacturer, but that's a different matter entirely.

Terrin
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2006

0

10/16, 10:04am | report spam | close Reply |
Geez

I really do not see why you guys are complaining. They only want a label on a product that should have been put there anyway. They are not asking for money.

mr. strat, it is likely you who eats s***. In all those fast food burgers you eat. Cow s***, rat s***, people s***, it is all in there.

Terrin
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2006

0

10/16, 10:08am | report spam | close Reply |
Accept

The problem with your observation is this suit isn't asking for money other then the civil fine that would go to the government not the party suing.

You write, "These suits that are brought against Apple and others would have a great deal more validity if they folks suing them were not trying to get monetary compensation, but instead only sued to force a company to stop a practice and cover court costs.

If this were the case, many of these suits would not be the target of so much mud-slinging done by the Apple fanatics that live and breath Apple..."

ttrostel
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jul 2007

0

10/16, 10:57am | report spam | close Reply |
Normal Usage

So ... should all products which contain trace amounts of cyanide be labeled also even if the amounts are low enough that they should pose no problems with normal usage?

henjin
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2007

0

10/16, 12:22pm | report spam | close Reply |
Babies you are all

Greenpeace has a mandate. If you think Al Gore is going to mock them you are smoking too much weed. Apple knows full well what is in their products. Apple boasts a lot about how it's a different kind of tech company, that puts the consumer interest first. It does not fiscally nor does it care that much about the environment. Indeed Al Gore is going to find this very embarrassing. There is a very strong movement afoot in the tech industry to start using recycled but safe products in packaging and in hardware. As Apple is a monopoly for Mac systems they are 100% liable. Simple put a sticker on, change the design of pretty mediocre earphones and pay a small fine after cleaning up the iPhone. You whiny Apple zealots should open your eyes, Tech was meant to be green. It's not and that's a shame. No use saying other companies are just as bad, they are not all as bad, no means great either. Apple should lead the way as it has Al Gore on the board.

JackWebb
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2007

0

10/16, 05:32pm | report spam | close Reply |
re: babies you are all

Al Gore needs to lead himself first. Maybe he can start by not exempting himself and his business interests with the excuse he buys carbon credits or some such. Al is about ends justifies means so whatever he does is going to be about his image as well as he can maintain it which he's doing very well at now since his new prize has reinforced his smugness. Good luck looking to him for real results.

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Details of Apple/CEH toxin lawsuit emerge

updated 05:30 pm EDT, Mon October 15, 2007

Details of Apple/CEH suit

iPods

IF it's true

Phthalates

CEH--

Simple Fix

Stupid

note to self

warning

greenpiece

Eat s***, greeners

Remember...

I won't eat an iPhone

just stay awayfrom Kali

hmmmm

hey horvatic

mr. strat

Time for Court

Transdermal exposure

Re: if its true

Geez

Accept

Normal Usage

Babies you are all

re: babies you are all

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Details of Apple/CEH toxin lawsuit emerge

updated 05:30 pm EDT, Mon October 15, 2007

Details of Apple/CEH suit

Related Articles

Recent Articles

iPods

IF it's true

Phthalates

CEH--

Simple Fix

Stupid

note to self

warning

greenpiece

Eat s***, greeners

Remember...

I won't eat an iPhone

just stay awayfrom Kali

hmmmm

hey horvatic

mr. strat

Time for Court

Transdermal exposure

Re: if its true

Geez

Accept

Normal Usage

Babies you are all

re: babies you are all

Login Here

Register for our weekly email newsletter:

Connect tools:

Subscribe

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on Twitter

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MacNN Marketplace