May
29
Filed Under Product Safety
Greenpeace released a report last week regarding extensive testing that they had done on gaming consoles. Now, while I’m sure that your baby or toddler, aren’t playing video games, you may have an elementary aged child or teenager who is, and we don’t like to limit ourselves to only keeping your babies and toddlers safe. According to Greenpeace, game consoles are one of the fastest growing markets for consumer electronics. I know we ourselves have a few gaming consoles for rainy days.
Their findings weren’t exactly surprising. Greenpeace detected the use of PVC, phthalates, as well as beryllium and bromine, which are chemical fire retardants. All game consoles that were tested complied with European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances (EU RoHS). Which means that there was no cadmium or mercury detected in any of the materials, and lead and chromium were found in some of the samples that were tested. The three major players (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo) have said that they would phase out BBR and PVC by 2010 (although Sony only intends to phase out these chemicals on mobile products like the PSP and has not committed to other game consoles). Nintendo has not given a definitive date.
You can download the PDF of Greenpeace’s full executive summary “Playing Dirty” here.
Related articles:
- Chemicals In Baby Products May Be Harmful
- Health Canada to Annouce BPA Dangerous
- California’s Ban on BPA Passes Senate Health Committee
