Greenpeace finds hazardous chemicals in consoles

  • By Adam Vaughan, GameSpot UK
  • Posted May 20, 2008 7:13 am PT

Eco-warriors find PVC, phthalates, beryllium, and bromide in various combinations within the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii.

Adam Vaughan writes for GameSpot UK sister site SmartPlanet.com

Not content with prying open just the iPhone in its hunt for toxic components, Greenpeace has dismantled the three big game consoles to see what unpleasant materials they contain. The resulting report, "Playing Dirty," is out today. The upshot: The PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii didn't break any laws, but--as gamers will discover--they do contain dubious and arguably unnecessary chemicals.

The research reveals that the three consoles contain a mixture of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), phthalates, beryllium, and bromine. Bromine and beryllium are a health issue for workers mainly during disposal and recycling, while phthalates have the unwelcome honour of being linked to sexual reproduction problems--especially in male mammals. Not something that gaming geezers will want to hear.

While Greenpeace points out all three are making an effort, the results from the charity's research centre at the University of Exeter show all three console makers could be cleaner. Here's how each console fared:

PS3

• Contained some bromine-free circuit boards--the only console tested to receive that honour.

• However, it also had the highest level (13.8 percent) of bromine in a single component--the fan housing.

• Contained PVC, but not as much as the Xbox 360. The report points out the differences in PVC weren't huge.

Xbox 360

• The only console which Greenpeace found DINP phthalates in--bad news. They were found in the AV cable.

• It had the highest concentration of any phthalates--27.5 percent of a type called DEHP in a power cable coating.

• It also contained more PVC than the Wii and PS3.

• On the plus side, the housing materials had lower levels of brominated materials.

Wii

• Phthalates were much lower than in the PS3 and 360--unlike the other two, they didn't exceed EU laws limiting phthalate levels in toys.

• It also had the least amount of PVC overall.

• None of its electrical contacts contained beryllium--both the 360 and PS3 did.

The full report makes for interesting reading and is available here. The report's certainly a turnaround for Nintendo, which Greenpeace previously ranked bottom on its eco efforts because of a failure to disclose information.

The original article, "Greenpeace finds hazardous chemicals in PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii," was published on GameSpot's sister site SmartPlanet.com.

116 Comments

  • popping4it

    Posted May 24, 2008 12:41 am PT

    OH MAN i was planning to EAT my 360 afterwards. i guess ill have to settle with food.

  • gmagnus

    Posted May 22, 2008 6:57 pm PT

    "Apparently it gives off harmful gases just sitting around"

    Are my Transformers PVC figures killing me??

  • canuter

    Posted May 22, 2008 12:43 pm PT

    To the environmentally unconscious:
    PVC lasts for thousands of years and is not being recycled.
    When the moment comes, ask to have your consoles put in the coffin with you.

  • ctg867

    Posted May 22, 2008 9:59 am PT

    Hopefully, if organizations like Greenpeace can continue to pound out things like this, to make the companies look bad, then they have more incentive to change. If public opinion is that these companies are producing harmful electronics, maybe there will be a backlash, or an overall more negative opinion. And I'm sure they don't want that.

  • fencingbean

    Posted May 22, 2008 9:40 am PT

    sorry ecofreaks i cant stop eating pvc and the dehv in power cables , yummy chomp munch chomp munch

    the most toxic chemicals are the ones in the poo they try and tell us.

  • goober2

    Posted May 22, 2008 1:22 am PT

    I'm only familiar with PVC as far as harmful materials. Apparently it gives off harmful gases just sitting around and there's no way to dispose of it without harming the environment(i.e.:living things). I watched an interesting documentary about it called "Blue Vinyl". Check it out, it's good food for thought. www.bluevinyl.com I think people should expect their electronics to have harmful chemicals in them. Just using electricity can be considered bad for the environment(in 2006, 49% of the US's electricity was generated by burning coal,19% by nuclear power). I think any electronics manufacturer should provide information on how to recycle or dispose of their products properly in order to reduce environmental pollution. Maybe organizations like Greenpeace take things too far sometimes, but I don't think it's a bad thing to be careful about what we put into the trash. I see CRT computer monitors at my dumpster all the time, and those things have lead in them. I think as of right now, it costs money to have a company come to my apartment and dispose of my harmful electronics properly. I remember this from researching if it's okay to just throw a computer monitor into the dumpster. It's not. Shouldn't that sort of thing be free of charge to give people incentive not to dispose of these things improperly? Anyway, we should all care about this kind of stuff, because it does have an impact on our lives. Encouraging the use of non-toxic materials in our game consoles can't be bad. The more people express their concern about it, the more likely it will happen. Just be reasonable and researched about it. Thanks for reading my humble opinion.

  • nate1222

    Posted May 21, 2008 3:36 pm PT

    This stuff is only harmful if you're sticking it in your mouth. Otherwise, take the console to a tech recycler when it goes kaputt so that this stuff doesn't wind up in a landfill poluting the Earth.

  • dragonsama

    Posted May 21, 2008 6:56 am PT

    I don't care what a system is made of as long it it plays my games and doesn't break down I'm happy.

  • Ardiendo_1

    Posted May 21, 2008 4:25 am PT

    Phthalates are only considered harmful to young children and there is no solid proof they cause any damage anyway.

  • reven101011

    Posted May 21, 2008 3:50 am PT

    Oh for goodness sake. This is ridiculous. Why on Earth does Greenpeace have to stick its greenfingers where the sun don't shine?!?! Keep it to yourself and maybe the entire planet will not think you are a bunch of loser hippies.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted May 21, 2008 3:12 am PT

    Erm... since when do people recycle their games consoles? I mean, I still own or have sold on every games console I ever owned and the same goes for anyone that I have ever known. Seriously though Greenpeace, there are bigger issues. Sort those out first and then start dealing with the little problems.

  • mclabaugh1977

    Posted May 20, 2008 8:16 pm PT

    Well, we all should care, since we live here. Agreed, though, jrabbit99--I took a look at the Greenpeace link and read over the info they have there. Mostly it's inflammatory rhetoric, and they're just as guilty as any news source of giving you the Big Scary Problem, but not the true specifics of how it affects you personally other than you should Be Very Afraid Of It In A Nonspecific Way. Should we simply avoid licking cables (not a problem, I'm expecting, for 99% of us), or is this something like a new carpet where it's going to release harmful chemicals into the air or what? C'mon, Greenpeace, get on the ball here.

    Even better: if you look at the pictures they have, you know--the scary ones with the gloved hands holding controllers? One picture, this is off the SmartPlanet page, there's a hole in the glove. Way to go, kids. If it were truly dangerous to have the stupid thing open, because obviously you'd only wear gloves to protect yourself from something dangerous, why bother wearing protection that has a hole in it? Sheesh.

    If they're going to tell us it's bad, then they need to be more specific on why--it's not enough to vaguely cite reproductive harm and behavioral troubles. What's the transmission channel for this stuff? Sure, I can look it up, and I probably will, but my suspicion is that GP is betting that most will just get all fired up (those who do that sort of thing at least) and start firing off angry letters. I agree, if there is a way to make these things more ecologically sound, so that they don't just go contaminate groundwater or poison the soil when they're improperly disposed of, then it should be done...but the way that they're trying to convince us we should care about this is more than irresponsible of GP. They need to be better than that.

  • ocdog45

    Posted May 20, 2008 6:35 pm PT

    who cares

  • jrabbit99

    Posted May 20, 2008 6:03 pm PT

    they need to explain what all the chemicals do and why they are bad.

  • Ground_Zero

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:52 pm PT

    ok so when im lost on an island alone with just a 360, wii and a ps3 i dont eat them? got it!

  • Kakua_Omari

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:45 pm PT

    Slow day at greenpeace?

  • breakitapart

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:05 pm PT

    ...the same Greenpeace that is participating in negating Americas need for energy independence from other countrys oil ...anyone fill up your car lately? ouch!

  • bostonfan1123

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:05 pm PT

    hey kids advise for you:
    don't eat your gaming console
    lol this article is a joke

  • rockon1215

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:05 pm PT

    people eat consoles?

  • rockon1215

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:04 pm PT

    people eat consoles?

  • rockon1215

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:02 pm PT

    people eat consoles?

  • breakitapart

    Posted May 20, 2008 5:01 pm PT

    ...the same Greenpeace that is participating in Genocide by negating and disrupting any sort of Industrialization in Africa...because of the "environment".
    Think before you choose to defend this unthinking organization…

  • TheCritic9393

    Posted May 20, 2008 4:58 pm PT

    O.......K......?

  • Megawizard1

    Posted May 20, 2008 3:21 pm PT

    Here's a hint Greenpeace:

    There's something in everything that will kill you.

  • starfoxmcleoud

    Posted May 20, 2008 3:02 pm PT

    Isn't it ironic how the nobel prize winner Al Gore, the loudest voice in the cry of "global warming", just so happens to have the house that uses the most energy in Tennessee?

  • thestickman

    Posted May 20, 2008 3:00 pm PT

    It's not like anybody is gonna throw their Xbox 360, PS3 or Wii in the garbage anytime soon, but I guess its still an interesting study.

  • darknferno12

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:47 pm PT

    Awesome so now we have Greenpeace working at Microsoft, Nintendo, Sony to fix these problems....whats that their just point out a problem, complain and want the problem solved by others

  • redskinStu posted May 20, 2008 2:36 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    redskinStu

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:36 pm PT (hide)

    You can't compare the Wii to the PS 3 or the 360.
    The Wii is basically a glorified Gamecube, the other two are new-gen consoles, with extremely complex components and the PS 3 also has a blu-ray player in it too.

  • rgame1

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:32 pm PT

    blah blah blah. seriously, why bother.

  • destrozz

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:21 pm PT

    LMAO

  • kerrman

    Posted May 20, 2008 2:04 pm PT

    Luckly I haven't eaten my AV cables so my swim team is still swimming strong as ever.
    Dumb Greenpeace always trying to ruin my fun.

  • Feniks9174

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:46 pm PT

    Didn't we already know this? I could have sworn there was an article almost exactly like this a year or so back.

  • jedinortd_basic

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:45 pm PT

    lol what a dumb article

  • KillerFPS

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    Greenpeace is just as pathetic an organization as PETA.

  • Petri87

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:33 pm PT

    So? I work at a plastic factory as an CNC operator and just about everything has PVC in them. As long as you dont burn them and sniff the fumes it cant harm humans so its not a big deal. And if some worker is standing right beside a pile of plastic when they are disposed(melting it or burning) whitout a mask then hes clearly and idiot and deserves to get toxicated.

  • vdawg1

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:16 pm PT

    I can just see it now:
    NEWS FLASH: Man attempts to strangle another man with av cords but ends up poisoning him instead. Man regrets not reading the GreenPeace warning label and admits, it wasn't his plan to poison the victim, had he known.

  • Viral-venom13

    Posted May 20, 2008 1:01 pm PT

    Well, well i guess Nintendo considers all angles as in they not only consider entertainment factors but that of health as well!

  • unblessedhand

    Posted May 20, 2008 12:55 pm PT

    I hope this gets serious and gaming does go green, that way, maybe they'll do cheap cardboard ps3/xbox360 consoles xb

  • Ice_man_1985

    Posted May 20, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    so it's okay if we smoked.

  • Nineball2112

    Posted May 20, 2008 12:17 pm PT

    Gaming Goes Green - Oh jeez... if I hear one more thing branded with the term "goes green", I'm gonna scream.

    There is a big difference between ravaging "mother earth" and dump carcinogenics into our rivers and oceans versus how much PVC a game system has. I mean think about how many PVC pipes are in your house!?! I don't think a little plastic part that is made out of the same thing is going to add to my overall health worries....

  • janderdarkmoon

    Posted May 20, 2008 11:49 am PT

    Wow folks, slow your roll. Greenpeace is not Jack Thompson, they are not trying to take down the gaming industry. We live in an age where many people are for the first time attempting to be socially and environmentally responsible, Greenpeace is just pointing out areas that the big three should improve upon. Besides with all the flack the gaming industry has to deal with. I feel any positive steps the industry makes in ANY DEPARTMENT could only help us out in the long run. Just imagine how powerful an ally a few of the largest environmental groups in the world would be for the industry if "Gaming Goes Green"

  • TBoogy

    Posted May 20, 2008 11:27 am PT

    Wow. I can't believe some of the people here...

  • galduke

    Posted May 20, 2008 11:05 am PT

    Huh, I guess the Wii is the healthier choice in more ways than one... yup.

  • CharlieFubar

    Posted May 20, 2008 10:57 am PT

    so if i eat my console i can sue them for poisoning me? *joking*

  • darkride66

    Posted May 20, 2008 10:55 am PT

    Take another hit of your bong, hippies!

  • akiwak

    Posted May 20, 2008 10:37 am PT

    I'll just blame this on my perfomance issues in the bedroom!!! but Honey according to Greenpeace it's the gaming that is the cause of this... LOL

  • BenderUnit22

    Posted May 20, 2008 10:32 am PT

    Buttom line: Don't eat your consoles

  • uzielnephilim

    Posted May 20, 2008 10:08 am PT

    lol, i want my 360 hazardous edition

  • patton101

    Posted May 20, 2008 10:04 am PT

    Uuuuuugh, stupid hippies.

  • ichiban30

    Posted May 20, 2008 9:54 am PT

    they fail to mention that those parts are actually mainly produced by little factories around the world. Not Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo. Without these big names, there wouldn't be much of a story huh.

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