Green America, a non-profit group, is claiming that Apple could curb the toxic threat to 1.5 million people working in supplier factories in China for as little as $1 in additional cost per device.
The group contends that workers are at risk for exposure to toxic substances on the assembly line.
Smartphones, including iPhones, regularly are made in factories where workers do not have adequate training or protective gear for handling toxic substances. According to the EPA’s Air Toxics web site, exposure to dangerous chemicals can lead to cancer, leukemia, nerve damage, liver and kidney failure and reproductive health issues, depending on the chemical and level of exposure.
More about working conditions at iPhone suppliers on EHS Today.
EHS Today is an NED companion site within Penton’s Manufacturing & Supply Chain Group.