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Greenpeace Research Laboratories | Technical Note | October 2007
greenpeace.org
© Greenpeace/Will Rose
iPhone exposed.
As disassembly
progresses the
iPhone's inner
circuitry and
components are
revealed.
Contents
Executive Summary 3
Introduction 4
Results 6
Conclusions 8
References 12
Authors
David Santillo, Adam Walters,
Kevin Brigden and Iryna Labunska
Greenpeace Research Laboratories
Technical Note 08/2007
JN 086
greenpeace.org
© Greenpeace/Will Rose
In May 2007, Apple announced that all of its new products
would be free from brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and
• The presence of antimony in four of the components raises
additional concerns. Despite its well recognised toxicity,
the chlorinated plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by the end of antimony (often used to enhance brominated flame
2008. The following month, Apple launched its latest retardant formulations) is not currently regulated under
product, the iPhone, to an eager US market and is now RoHS.
gearing up for its release in Europe in November this year. In
order to see what progress Apple has already made towards • A high level of chlorine was detected in the plastic coating
meeting its pledge on hazardous chemicals and materials, of the headphone cables, along with phthalates plasticisers
Greenpeace purchased an iPhone in Washington, DC in June at a total of over 1.5% by weight, both characteristic of
and forwarded it to laboratories in the UK for deconstruction PVC. Although the use of PVC and phthalate esters is not
and analysis. currently prohibited or even regulated under RoHS, it is
worth noting that none of the four phthalates found in this
The iPhone was carefully deconstructed at the Greenpeace study are permitted for use in components of toys or
Research Laboratories, based at the University of Exeter (UK), childcare articles sold in Europe.
and a selection of 18 internal and external materials and
components were subsequently forwarded to an independent • As we were able to analyse only a small selection of the
laboratory elsewhere in the UK for analysis of chemical different components and materials, it is not possible
composition. This analysis focused primarily on those (without a lot of additional testing) to conclude that all
substances regulated under the European Union's RoHS materials used in the iPhone currently on sale in the USA
Directive (2005/84/EC), which prevents the use of lead, would comply with EU law.
cadmium, mercury, chromium (VI) and certain brominated
flame retardants in electrical and electronic goods. Additional The fact that a product brought newly to the US market in
tests were also run for certain other hazardous substances June 2007 still utilises PVC and brominated flame retardants
and materials, including PVC and the toxic phthalate (even if not those BFRs regulated under the RoHS Directive)
plasticisers they commonly contain. suggests that Apple is not making early progress towards its
2008 commitment to phase-out all uses of these materials,
• All components tested appear to be compliant with the even in entirely new product lines. Whether the iPhone model
requirements of the EU RoHS Directive, to the extent that due for release in Europe in November 2007 will also rely on
1) no cadmium or mercury were detected, 2) lead and brominated internal components and PVC headphones
chromium were detected in a small proportion of samples remains to be seen.
and at relatively low concentrations and 3) there was no
evidence for the presence of the most toxic and regulated If Apple really wants to reinvent the phone, it needs to design
form of chromium (chromium (VI)) in a range of other metal- out all hazardous substances and materials from its handsets
plated components tested. and peripherals.
3
Missed Call: iPhone's
hazardous chemicals
© Greenpeace/Will Rose
panel revealing the
iPhone's circuitry
and battery.
Table 1: description of the 18 different components and materials from the iPhone which
were subjected to surface chemical composition analysis using XRF.
5
Missed Call: iPhone's
hazardous chemicals
© Greenpeace/Will Rose
progresses with
removal of one of
the phone's main
circuit boards.
Further details of the methods employed can be provided on The flexible plastic of the headphone cable did yield high
request. concentrations of extractable additives, namely phthalate
esters (more commonly known as phthalates), comprising a
Despite the very high bromine content, the flexible antenna total of over 1.5% of the overall weight of the material.
circuit board contained no detectable residues of PBDEs In total, four phthalates were detected, dominated by DEHP
(<30 ppm), including octa- and nona-BDE, nor of PBBs, (at 11,400 ppm, or 1.1% by weight), followed by DnBP
(though the absence of PBBs is not unexpected given that (5,070 ppm, or 0.5%), DiNP (725 ppm, or 0.07%) and DiDP
these are historically used chemicals that are now are largely (75 ppm, or 0.007%). These figures, together with the
obsolete). Two limitations to the analysis performed are worth presence of high levels of chlorine, strongly indicate that the
noting:- headphone cable is made of PVC, plasticised with phthalates
including those banned for use in toys and childcare articles
i) the limits of detection are relatively high (as the method in the EU10. Furthermore, these results are similar (though
is designed primarily to test compliance with the RoHS higher overall) than those found in previous analyses of
Directive), such that any small traces of PBDEs (below headphone cables sold with an Apple iPod, for which we
regulatory significance) would not have been detected; have confirmed the presence of PVC (DEHP 6,000-6,900
ppm; DnBP 2 200-2,700 ppm; DiNP 2 100-2,700 ppm).
ii) the exclusion of decaBDE from the analysis (also for
regulatory reasons) means that even high concentrations of The two most abundant phthalates in the headphone cables
this flame retardant would not have been detected in this of both the iPhone and iPod are those classified in Europe as
study. However, were decaBDE present at high levels, it is 'toxic to reproduction: category 2’11, as a result of their ability
likely that the analyses would have detected the presence of to interfere with sexual development in mammals, especially in
nonaBDE and octaBDEs which are commonly present at males. These phthalates are prohibited from use in all toys or
significant levels as contaminants in decaBDE formulations. childcare articles put on the market in Europe (with a limit of
0.1% by weight), according to Directive 2005/84/EC. The
While these are significant limitations, it is possible to two other phthalates found in the headphones sold with the
conclude that the flexible antenna circuit board, at least, iPhone (DiNP and DiDP) are prohibited under the same
would be in compliance with existing EU laws on the Directive from use in toys and childcare articles if they can be
presence of brominated flame retardants. Although the placed in the mouth by children. Although it is unclear
possibility cannot be ruled out that the high levels of bromine whether headphones from an iPod or iPhone could ever be
detected in this component resulted from the presence of classified as components of toys or childcare articles, it is
decaBDE or another additive brominated flame retardant not clear that the presence of high levels of phthalates in such
addressed by RoHS, it seems more likely (on the basis of materials could contribute to overall levels of exposure to
experience with similar components in various brands of such chemicals for the user, including children.
laptop computers8) that the bromine is present in a reactive
polymeric form (such as cross-linked TBBPA-based
formulations) or, at least, in poorly extractable oligomeric
forms which cannot be quantified using gas chromatographic
techniques. Whether in additive or reactive form, the
presence of such high proportions by weight of bromine in
such materials is of concern with respect to the disposal or
recycling of end-of-life iPhone handsets, as even cross-linked
organic-bound bromine can contribute to the formation of
toxic chemicals, including persistent and bioaccumulative
brominated dioxins and related compounds during thermal
destruction or processing9.
7
Missed Call: iPhone's
hazardous chemicals
9
Missed Call: iPhone's
hazardous chemicals
Annex 1: detailed results from XRF analysis of 18 iPhone components and materials.
All values are parts per million (ppm)
Sample code Sample description Bromine (Br) Cadmium (Cd)
© Greenpeace/Will Rose
circuit boards of the
iPhone. Analysis
detected bromine,
suggesting that it
contains brominated
flame retardants
<20 <20 10 -
<20 <20 <20 Antimony (Sb)
180 <20 80 -
100 <20 <20 Antimony (Sb)
<20 <20 <20 -
160 <20 <20 -
280 <20 <20 -
<20 <20 <20 -
<20 <20 <20 -
<20 <20 60 -
<20 <20 <20 -
<20 <20 <20 Antimony (Sb) Chlorine (Cl)
<20 <20 <20 -
<20 <20 <20 -
<20 <20 <20 -
<20 <20 <20 Antimony (Sb)
<20 <20 <20 Chlorine (Cl)
<20 <20 50 -
11
References
1) Greenpeace Research Laboratories, unpublished.
2) http://www.apple.com/iphone/
Greenpeace is an independent global
campaigning organisation that acts to 3) Directive 2002/95/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 January 2003 on the
restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
change attitudes and behaviour, to Official Journal L 037, 13/02/2003: pp. 0019-0023 [http://eur-
protect and conserve the environment lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32002L0095:EN:HTML]
and to promote peace. 4) Lassen, C., Lokke, S. & Andersen, L.I. (1999) Brominated Flame Retardants: Substance Flow
Analysis and Assessment of Alternatives. Danish Environmental Protection Agency,
Environmental Project 494, ISBN 87-7909-416-3, [http://www.mst.dk/199908pubs/87-7909-
416-3/default.htm]
Greenpeace International 5) Morf, L.S., Tremp, J., Gloor, R., Huber, Y., Stengele, M., Zennegg, M. (2005) Brominated flame
retardants in waste electrical and electronic equipment: substance flows in a recycling plant.
Ottho Heldringstraat 5 Environmental Science & Technology 39(22): 8691-8699
1066 AZ Amsterdam
6) Mann, K.K., Davison, K., Colombo, M., Colosimo, A.L., Diaz, Z., Padovani, A.M.S., Guo, Q.,
The Netherlands Scrivens, P.J., Gao, W.L., Mader, S. & Miller, W.H. (2006) Antimony trioxide-induced apoptosis is
Tel: +31 20 7182000 dependent on SEK1/JNK signaling. Toxicology Letters 160(2): 158-170; De Boeck, M., Kirsch-
Volders, M. & Lison, D. (2003) Cobalt and antimony: genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. Mutation
Fax: +31 20 5148151 Research 533: 135-152; IARC (1989) Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to
Humans, Volume 47: Some Organic Solvents, Resin Monomers and Related Compounds,
Pigments and Occupational Exposures in Paint Manufacture and Painting: Summary of Data
Reported and Evaluation. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health
Organisation. Updated April 1999: 22 pp.
[http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol47/volume47.pdf]
7) Weber, R. & Kuch, B. (2003) Relevance of BFRs and thermal conditions on the formation
pathways of brominated and brominated-chlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans.
Environment International 29(6): 699-710
8) Brigden, K. & Santillo, D. (2006) Determining the presence of hazardous substances in five
brands of laptop computers.Greenpeace Research Laboratories Technical Note 05/2006: 20
pp. [http://www.greenpeace.to/publications/toxic-chemicals-in-computers.pdf]
9) Gullett, B.K., Linak, W.P., Touati, A., Wasson, S.J., Gatica, S., King, C.J. (2007)
Characterization of air emissions and residual ash from open burning of electronic wastes
during simulated rudimentary recycling operations. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste
Management 9(1): 69-79
10) Directive 2005/84/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2005
amending for the 22nd time Council Directive 76/769/EEC on the approximation of the laws,
regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States relating to restrictions on the
marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations (phthalates in toys and
childcare articles): [http://eur-
lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2005:344:0040:0043:EN:PDF]
11) Langezaal, I. (2002) The classification and labelling of Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, Reprotoxic
and Sensitising substances. Publ. European Chemicals Bureau, Joint Research Centre, Ispra,
Italy: 193 pp. [http://ecb.jrc.it/documents/Classification-
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_properties.doc]
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