The environmental watchdog says the popular game consoles contain harmful chemicals. Although the systems don’t pose an immediate threat to gamers as they gleefully mash on the buttons or wave their wii-motes in the air… Greenpeace raises the serious issue of harmful chemicals used in consumer electronics.

It sounds alarmist, saying that the consoles can kill – but PVCs, bromine and beryllium alloys are dangers substances that can affect the human body in a number of ways including causing cancer. Granted the amounts of the harmful substances are below regulations but over time, exposure builds up and will affect us over time. Worse still, many of these game consoles will end up as e-waste left to leak into our landfills and poison our water. Have a cold glass of Bromine!

It’s not just game consoles that contain such chemicals, they’re found in cell phones, HDTVs and other common consumer goods. Our own Green Gadget section reveals many of the initiatives worldwide that are helping to keep electronics clean.

“Nobodywill drop dead tomorrow - but these products are used by kids … They are persistent and they are accumulating through our life.” Says Greenpeace’s Zeina AlHajj stated, remarking on the cumulative nature of exposure to certain harmful chemicals.

In response to the charges laid recently by Greenpeace, each of the game console’s manufacturers came out with dry, yawn inducing statements about their commitment to health and the environment. Greenpeace says that Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony has pledged to phase out toxic chemicals within a few years but urged them to move faster.

Tags: Cell Phones, Format war, Nokia, Scams

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 22nd, 2008 at 9:09 am and is filed under Gaming. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.