European Debut of iPhone Marred by Potential Exposure to Chemicals Linked to Reproductive Harm 

Oakland, CA- The Center for Environmental Health (CEH) today announced that additional independent lab tests have confirmed that headphone cords for the Apple iPhone and iPod contain high levels of phthalates, a family of chemicals that can disrupt the normal functions of hormones and cause reproductive harm. Last month, CEH initiated legal action against Apple for the iPhone and iPod headphone cords, which could expose consumers to phthalates in excess of state standards.

Apple has said that it will eliminate PVC, the source of phthalates in the headphone cords, by the end of 2008. Tonight, Apple is launching the European release of the iPhone in the UK and Germany. According to the company's release, Apple's senior vice president of Retail said, "We can't wait for our customers to get their hands on the iPhone."

"Apple customers should know that when they get their hands on an iPhone they may be getting a dose of toxic chemicals as well," said Michael Green, Executive Director of CEH. "It's clear that Apple's priority is to market new products as fast as possible, not as safely as possible. For their customers who are buying now, that's just not good enough."

Among the potential health effects of phthalates are premature birth, early puberty in girls, impaired sperm quality and sperm damage in men, genital defects and reduced testosterone production in boys. Both California and the EU have banned phthalates in products for young children.

On October 15, a Greenpeace study found high levels of phthalates in Apple's headphone cords, prompting CEH's investigation and legal action. Greenpeace found 5070 parts per million (ppm) of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) in the iPhone headset cable; the additional testing commissioned by CEH found 6200 ppm of DBP in the iPhone headset cable and 6300 ppm DBP in the iPod headset cable. The Center's legal work under California law has recently forced national recalls of lead-tainted toys, vinyl baby bibs, children's lunchboxes, jewelry and other products.

The CEH October 15 statement on Apple's violation of California law is at http://www.cehca.org/press-releases/eliminating-toxics/iphone-phthalates-violate-california-law 

For the Greenpeace report, see http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/iphone-s-hazardous-chemicals

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