Who would have guessed those popular white ear buds could reduce the Apple faithful’s gene pool?
Greenpeace said in a report Monday that Apple’s iPhone ear bud cords contain chemicals considered harmful to human reproduction.
“The phthalates found in the headphone cords are classified in Europe as ‘toxic to reproduction’ because of their long-recognized ability to interfere with sexual development,” Greenpeace scientist David Santillo said in the report.
The environmental group said that while the substances are not prohibited in mobile phones, they have been banned for use in toys sold in Europe and should be removed by Apple.
The Mac maker’s popular phone contains a number of substances—internally and externally—at levels prohibited for use in young children’s toys by San Francisco, which has its own environmental standards, and by the European Union, Greenpeace said.
“There is no reason why the iPhone could not have been made without toxins like vinyl plastics and brominated flame retardants as Nokia is already doing,” Greenpeace’s Rick Hind said in the report.
Apple CEO Steve Jobs promised in May that the computer maker would phase out those controversial substances by the end of 2008.
In August 2006, Greenpeace gave Apple a failing grade for its lack of progress in phasing out brominated flame retardants and polyvinyl chloride, used to insulate wires.