KEY POINTS:
America's Centre for Environmental Health is 'initiating legal action' against Apple Computer after a Greenpeace report found hazardous chemicals and materials it claims are in the hyper-popular iPhone.
The environmental organisation says it conducted tests on 18 internal and external iPhone components and its scientists' findings included toxic brominated compounds in the phone's antenna.
It says materials in the phone violate California law.
Under the state's Proposition 65 law, products that expose consumers to phthalates and chemicals that are reproductive toxins or carcinogens must carry a warning label.
Greenpeace said the tests indicate a mixture of toxic phthalates was found on the coating of the headphone cables.
The fact that the iPhone battery is glued and soldered into the handset, it claimed, hinders recycling efforts.
"It was disappointing to see the first release of the iPhone putting on the market a toxic product," Greenpeace spokesperson Zeina Alhajj said.
"We hope that the next release of the iPhone on a global level will bring us a greener iPhone."
Greenpeace said in a news release that recycling gadgets like the iPhone jeopardises both the environment, and the health of those charged with dismantling them to recycle.
"There is no reason to have these potentially hazardous chemicals in
iPhones" said Michael Green, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Health.
"We expect Apple to reformulate their products to make them safer from cradle to grave, so they don't pose a threat to consumers, workers or the environment."
