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The report acknowledged other troubles, such as inadequate safety provisions at factories, including one case last year in which dozens of workers were poisoned by unsafe handling of the chemical n-hexane at a factory in Suzhou, near Shanghai. Apple said it required the supplier, Wintek, to stop using the chemical and repair its ventilation system and will audit the factory again this year to ensure it is complying with its standards. Chinese environmental groups are growing increasingly outspoken on such issues and a report released last month by three dozen groups, "The Other Side of Apple," accused the company of being the least responsive to health and safety concerns among more than two-dozen companies that were surveyed. While contracts for Apple components are lucrative, the company's rigid quality standards led contractors to do whatever they can to ensure their products pass muster, the 21st Century Business Herald said, citing Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun, whose Center for Public and the Environment helped compile the "Other Side" report. Ma said Wintek had gotten better results using n-hexane, a solvent that can cause nerve damage, rather than alcohol to clean screens and switched to the more toxic chemical without telling Apple. Overall, Apple said it ordered changes by 80 suppliers that were found to be mishandling or improperly storing hazardous chemicals.
[Associated
Press;
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