Activists target chemicals used in iPhones

Apple’s work practices are under attack by two activist groups who say the company makes its iPhones with a hazardous mix of chemicals that threaten the health of factory workers assembling the devices in China.

The campaign began last week with an online petition put together by China Labour Watch, a longtime Apple critic, and Green America, an environmental protection group.

If enough consumers sign the “Bad Apple” petition, the two groups hope to pressure the company into abandoning the use of two chemicals, benzene and n-hexane, in the production of the iPhone, Apple’s top-selling product.