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The decision is hailed by Elizabeth O’Connell, Campaign Director of Green America, who hoped that it would soon be feasible to remove the most dangerous chemicals to human health or find ways to reduce the exposure.
The use of hazardous chemicals in the manufacture of iPhones has been a bone of contention for quite some time. The chemicals under the line of fire are benzene and n-hexane. While the former is reportedly carcinogen, the latter has properties linked to nerve damage.
These chemicals were suspected to be dangerous for workers assembling iPhones mostly through third-party contractors in China, Brazil, Ireland, etc. Environment protection and labour right organisations carried out a campaign to force Apple to abandon these two especially dangerous chemicals in the assembly of its gadgets. It is now understood that Apple is banning these two chemicals – considered hazardous – during the final assembly of iPhone and iPad. Incidentally, the company has been maintaining all along that there are no evidences to suggest any hazards to the health of the workers in the assembly line - estimated to be around 500,000.
A detailed study extending over 4 months and involving 18 factories also revealed little sign of any risks to workers thereby endorsing the stand of the company. Nevertheless Apple has now decided – after prolonged agitation by the environmentalists and right groups - to abandon the use of these chemicals and asked its suppliers to put a ban on its use while final assembling of its products, viz. iPads, iPhones, Mac and other accessories. It would however continue to use the chemicals during the early production phases, but has by way of precaution, limited the use of the chemicals to a considerable extent. The Vice President in charge of environmental initiative felt that the Company had to ‘show some leadership and really look toward the future by trying to use greener chemistries’.
The decision is hailed by Elizabeth O’Connell, Campaign Director of Green America, who hoped that it would soon be feasible to remove the most dangerous chemicals to human health or find ways to reduce the exposure.
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