"Apple bans two hazardous chemicals from assembly lines", BBC, 14 Aug 2014

Apple has banned two potentially hazardous chemicals from being used in the final assembly process at 22 of its iPhone and iPad production plants. Benzene, which is a carcinogen, and n-Hexane, which can cause nerve damage, will no longer be used in cleaning agents or degreasers at the facilities, the firm said...The move follows a campaign urging the tech giant to scrap the substances. One campaign group said Apple needed to "look deeper into its supply chain"...Apple's environmental director, Lisa Jackson, announced the commitment in a statement, saying the company launched an investigation after questions were asked about whether the chemicals were used at its factories.The firm said it found "no evidence of workers' health being put at risk" at any of the 22 plants visited, although four of the facilities were found to have traces of benzene or n-hexane...China Labor Watch, the New York-based non-profit organisation which campaigns for Apple to improve its safety standards, told the BBC it welcomed the commitment, but emphasised that the true test would be in its implementation. Executive director Li Quang said: "Apple has for years had commitments to labour standards like working hours, overtime wages and temporary worker regulations, but there is often widespread disregarding of these codes of conduct." Mr Li added he was also concerned about "Apple's ability to monitor whether implementation is taking place"...In a statement on its website, environmental campaign group Green America urged Apple to go further to ensure the safety of workers in its supply chain.