Apple is committed to reducing toxic chemicals in its iPhones.
According to a study by ifitit.org, Apple's latest iPhone 5 contains fewer toxic chemicals than its main smartphone competitor, the Samsung Galaxy S III.
This study, conducted by ifitit.com, the Ann Arbor-based Ecosystem Center, and HealthyStuff.org, involved researchers disassembling 36 mobile phones and examining each component individually using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) to analyze the chemical composition of each part.
Each phone will receive three scores after testing: the chemicals used, the score for each component, and the overall score. The final scores will be summed and categorized into a scale between 0 and 5, with lower scores indicating lower levels of toxic chemicals.
The heavily promoted iPhone 4S scored 2.69, falling into the "low attention" category. Almost all other phones in the "low attention" category were marketed using the "green" color as a marketing tactic. Samsung's Galaxy S III scored 2.99, placing it in the "moderate attention" category.
In this study, the least toxic phone was the Motorola Orange, scoring 2.56. The most toxic was the iPhone 2G, which scored the highest at 5, falling into the "high concern" category.
According to an analysis by HealthStuff.org, Apple is actively reducing the levels of toxic chemicals in its products. Ifixit.com notes that "the iPhone has undergone a steady, gradual improvement in toxic chemicals over the past five years, from the iPhone 2G, which had the worst overall score, to the current iPhone 4 and iPhone 5, both ranking in the top 10%."
Ifixit.com also specifically pointed out that Samsung, as a manufacturer, does not consistently prioritize the content of toxic chemicals across its product line. The company produces three phones—Captivate, Evergreen, and Reclaim—with the lowest levels of toxic chemicals. However, the Samsung-made SCH-U140 received a score of 4.18, the worst score in the "Moderate Concern" category.
In July of this year, AT&T launched its eco-ratings system in stores, allowing consumers to compare the environmental impact of different mobile phone brands. The system evaluates all phones based on 15 criteria across five categories: hazardous substances, environmentally friendly materials, energy efficiency, recycling, and environmentally responsible production.
Sources: Environmental Leader (2012-10-05) (PIDC 編譯)
