Using a mac may be bad to your health!

Something to think about.

Apple is investigating damning claims, published in a leading French newspaper, that its computers emit a toxic odour containing chemicals including the cancer-causing benzene.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/biztech/rotten-smell-raises-apple-toxin-fears/2008/10/02/1222651250932.html

Greenpeace, eh? They’ve been on Apple’s back for years now. I tend to take anything they say with at least a slightly raised eyebrow. I wonder how many other brands they tested, especially since Apple uses the same motherboard manufacturers everybody else does. I have yet to have a new computer (bought or built) that didn’t smell funny to begin with. And right now, a year-old Xerox color laser printer I’m sitting next to has a noticeable odor, and it hasn’t been turned on in this apartment yet at all. My old boom box, bought 10 years ago in Spain, smells a bit as well.

And parrots can be killed by the fumes released from overheating your teflon-coated frying pan. And a substance in orange rind (among other spices and fruits) can cause cancer in male rats. The plastic in your Coke bottle may leach cancer-causing chemicals into your Coke. The same chemical used to keep boilers in power plants from foaming over is used in canned vegetables to keep the liquid from foaming, and the cans’ labels don’t have to list it. Do your favorite cookies use flour from China? Milk powder from China? I could go on and on...

ROFLMAO,

The smell has been variously described as "new car smell", "musty", "rotting carpet" and even cannabis.

If only I could get mine to emit that last smell; I’d be much happier...

The Slashdot coverage had a lot of funny things to say about that!

VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are bad juju. I’ve never heard of Analytica, which did the analysis. Their area of expertise is mainly water quality, according to their web site, but their list of accreditations is pretty impressive.

I’m fairly sensitive to VOCs and had to tear out some new paneling in one room of my home because being in the room made my face burn and my eyes water. I can’t be inside new RVs of certain brands on a hot day because I get the same reaction. If my computer was emitting significant VOCs, I’d think I’d definitely know it. I’ve never spent much time close to a Mac, though, and I don’t think I’ll volunteer to be a tester.

I suppose MAc users could all get canaries but then PETA would have a fit.

I like the idea of a canary with every Mac.
Like in the old days of coal mining.

I’ve got a canary (well, I’m an "old lady" and I’m allergic to cats, so what do you expect?), and he’s just fine. I don’t have my old PowerMac server out right now, but when I did he was fine then too.

There’s a lot of common household things that can kill a bird. Using a teflon-coated baking pan in the oven has been know to do it; killed one woman’s four birds within hours.

Almost all computers emanate vapours from electronics cleansers such as benzene and volotile organic compounds. So do televisions, stereos and anything equipped with a microprocessor and circuit board.

I say they ship a PETA member with every mac and then we can store them in a leather bag and then I can get back to eating my roast chicken and eggs.

As a spiked hair kid might say: Don’t have a cow!

Quote from: smashingred at Oct 03, 2008, 08:10 AM

I say they ship a PETA member with every mac and then we can store them in a leather bag and then  I can get back to eating my roast chicken and eggs.

How did PETA get into this discussion?  I’d prefer a politician with every Mac if we’re trying to wipe out undesirables... PETA members generally don’t eat the food I do, but many politicians do...