Toxic gamers

The most worrying claim, for a prodominantly male gaming population, is that the Xbox 360, and PS3 both contain "very high levels" of "DEHP, [which] is classified as toxic to reproduction".

Ok, so it doesn't say that Xbox 360 or PS3 will make you sterile. It merely states that DEHP is classified as toxic to reproduction, and Greenpeace claim that this chemical has the ability to "interfere with sexual development in mammals, especially males". In all fairness though, it's pretty clear that games consoles interfere with male sexual development; just ask my wife (it's gone midnight now, she's in bed, and I'm up playing the Xbox).

On a more serious note, the point of the report is to highlight the use of toxic materials in the three games consoles. Especially since "Microsoft has made a commitment to eliminate the use of PVC and BFRs in its hardware by 2010. Sony commited to phase out PVC and certain uses of BFRs by 2010, though only for its mobile products and not including game consoles other than the Play Station Portable (psp)". Nintendo have also made a recent commitment to "eliminate PVC in its products, but failed to give a timeline for doing so". Overall, it is stated that all three console "appeared to comply with the EU RoHs Directive" that's the "European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (Rohs) Directive (2005/84/EC), which prevents the use of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium (VI) and certain BFRs in electrical and electronic equipment". However, the Greenpeace Research Laboratories identified several other materials they claim to be hazardous, which are not legally prohibited in the production of Games consoles.

Notably, efforts to reduce the use of hazardous chemicals was evident in all three consoles; although, those efforts were focused on different materials in each of the three. The ultimate conclusion of the report is: evidence of effort, but much more work to do. Anyone interested in reading the report can find it on greenpeace.org.