Your console could "KILL" you
 

http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/...micals/1214392

The next casualty in the console war might be you.

In their new 'Playing Dirty' report, environmental organization Greenpeace found that all three home video game consoles - Sony's PS3, Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii - tested positive for a variety of hazardous chemicals, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), beryllium, bromine, and phthalates.

The latter, found in relatively high levels in both the Xbox 360 and PS3, are not permitted in components of toys or childcare products sold in the European Union. However, game consoles are not classified as toys and therefore are not subject to existing legislation.

"Whether game consoles are classified as toys or not, they can still contain hazardous chemicals and materials that could harm humans. The technology is available for the manufacturers to design out toxics and produce greener game consoles now," said Greenpeace's Dr. Kevin Brigden in a press release.

The report found that all three systems also contained significant levels of bromine, a chemical linked to impaired memory functions and other health problems. One of the phthalates found in the 360 and PS3, a chemical called DEHP, is also known to interfere with sexual development in mammals, especially males.

Hold on -- you don't need to start wearing a cup made of reinforced steel every time you play Halo 3 just yet. Greenpeace points out that the three console manufacturers have "avoided or reduced uses of individual hazardous substances in certain materials within their consoles." Nintendo's Wii showed no traces of beryllium in its electrical contacts, the Xbox 360 used fewer brominated materials in its housing materials and the PS3 circuit boards were bromine-free.

"Our test clearly shows that a greener game console is possible, said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner. "By combining the best practices of each console design, we could replace most of the hazardous chemicals found in these game consoles with toxic free materials."

And whatever you do, don't dump your broken 360 in the trash. The group has further identified game consoles as key contributors towards a growing waste product called "ewaste." Once console have reached the end of useful life, the group said, game consoles are "often dumped and end up in unsafe and dirty recycling yards in developing countries, where toxic contents harm both the environment and the health of workers."


Pretty crazy, I won't be eating my PS3,Wii, or 360 any time soon:)

Greenpeace.

:lol:

I know, how disappointing. I was planning on having part of mine for supper tonight, and finishing it off tomorrow. :(

Can't loose what the don't use. Nerds don't get laid har har!!!

:(

"One of the items in your living room could kill you and your entire family. Are you at risk? Find out tonight at 11!"

Guess I need to stop licking all of my consoles. :(

I'm glad I read this before I did my traditional rub my Wii on my Wii.

Well, the title is right. They could certainly "kill" me, but they won't be killing me.

My refrigerator could fall on me too, but it's not very likely either.

Hey that is awesome!

That's the first thing that I thought of: I'm sure if someone threw the PS3 or 360 at my head, it could kill me. Those things are heavy...

Still can't spell 'lose' eh? -ohbfrank-

What is missing from this alarmist report is how much of these substances is present in other common household devices such as computers, tvs, receivers, etc.

Yeah, pretty sure I could drink some draino and get pretty sick:(

I thought my local news posted this. They have these "will kill you" stories all the time and it usually won't kill me.

Could? Let me know when it grows some balls, and that "could" becomes a "will."

No and apparently I don't know how to spell 'they'.

The Playstation 3 could be fatal if swallowed.

The Cell processor is so powerful that it is fatal if ingested.

You know, they're right--your console could kill you.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/24/xbox_teen/

"A North Carolina teenager who decided the best way to cool his Xbox's overheating power supply was to stick it in a bowl of water was knocked unconcious by the resulting electric shock and earned himself a trip to hospital with "minor burns to his right hand and foot".

According to local news reports, the 14-year-old Brevard youth was having a spot of bother with his console which would shut down every five minutes. His mum told the press he "thought the problem was likely linked to overheating" and duly "tried to fix it on his own based on tips he found online".

This apparently involved wrapping the offending power supply in plastic and tape and dunking it in said bowl "while it was still plugged in". His mother explained: "When I left to go next door he was playing a game but when I got back he was laying on his back on the floor and unconscious."

The young man was subsequently detained overnight at the local Transylvania Community Hospital. "

(and yes, I just noticed this was actual last year's news. The 360 might have tried again since then.)

They don't call it the "red ring of death" for nothing.