| Toxic Sex Toys and iPhones |
 Can't imagine where they will stick the RoHS label....
Yesterday's legal action in California against Apple over its use of phthalates may be the opening shot
in a nation wide battle between consumer advocates, health agencies,
state and federal entities, and manufacturers of everything from
teething rings to consumer electronics to sex toys.
Although the ban
(which will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009) is limited to California,
"lawmakers in Texas, Illinois, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland,
Washington, Maine, Connecticut and New York are expected to introduce
similar legislation in the coming months", according to environmental
and breast cancer groups that sponsored the California measure.
Phthalate is a chemical used to soften plastics, and it's used in a
variety of industries. There have been several studies that indicate it
may affect hormone levels as well as cause other lasting damage.
But
the issue is fairly controversial, because there are other existing
studies that show it poses no danger. The president of the American
Chemistry Council says, "This law is the product of the politics of
fear. It is not good science, and it is not good government." For now,
in California at least, the health advocates have prevailed whether the
science is there or not.
According to Greenpeace, phthalates are used in the antenna and headphones of the iPhone. Phthalates are also used in "nail polish, fishing lures, adhesives, caulk, paint pigments, and sex toys made of so called 'jelly rubber.'
Some vendors of jelly rubber sex toys advise covering them in condoms
when used internally, due to the possible health risks. Some products
containing phthalates (mostly toys and childcare articles) have been
banned in Europe.
Look for pressure to extend the ban on phthalates into EU and China RoHS.
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