Mac Pro's releasing toxins?

[keysersoze]

I just read this here: (http://www.hardmac.com) and was wondering if anyone who has a Mac Pro has smelled anything foul coming from it? Just curious I guess.

"Could It Be Dangerous to Work with a Mac Pro?! - Lionel - 15:50:43

About one year ago, we were reporting on our French website (macbidouille.com) that some Mac Pro owners were complaining about a weird and irritating smell coming our of their Mac Pro when it was switch on. We did not hear about this issue anymore, and Apple did not communicate about it, as defective parts were simply exchanged apparently.
Today, an article published in one of the leading French newspaper (http://www.liberation.fr) might bring this story back to the front page while bringing embarrassing information for Apple.

A scientist from the CNRS (National Center for Science and Research) was affected by this strange smell coming from his Mac Pro. As Apple could not fix the problem, he contacted Greenpeace to get the vapors analyzed by an independent laboratory. Results are surprising and might place Apple in a difficult position, while potentially igniting a scandal. Indeed, vapors were identified as toxic, harmful and among the compounds identified, there were styrene, benzene and other derivatives. All those chemicals are known for being highly toxic, and the benzene has been forbidden and is use is strictly controlled due to its carcinogenous properties:

This material is a known carcinogen. The risks of using it in the laboratory must be fully assessed before work begins. TLV 10 ppm. Short-term exposure may cause a variety of effects, including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, narcosis, reduction in blood pressure, CNS depression. Skin contact may lead to dermatitis. Long-term exposure may lead to irreversible effects. Severe eye irritant. Skin and respiratory irritant.

Beside the irritating properties of those chemicals, some are suspected of contributing to leukemia for people being exposed for a long period of time. Of course, this analysis will have to be confirmed by another laboratory, and the detected amount to be controlled and compared with the TLV defined by the respective MSDS, but Apple can not remain silent and will have to identify how such chemicals could end up in a Mac Pro."

[sash]

Of course, this analysis will have to be confirmed by another laboratory

We all are going to die. I new that.

I'm selling all my Macs and buying PCs first thing in the morning.

Thank God that PCs are made from clean and healthy materials.

[PowerFullMac]

Yet another reason why my next computer will be a Hackintosh!

[Cave Man]

A scientist from the CNRS (National Center for Science and Research) was affected by this strange smell coming from his Mac Pro. As Apple could not fix the problem, he contacted Greenpeace to get the vapors analyzed by an independent laboratory.

Greenpeace; independent laboratory. That's pretty funny. :rolleyes:

[sash]

Yet another reason why my next computer will be a Hackintosh!

No-no-no! Buy a generic PC. It's clean for sure. They're using absolutely different parts, you know, especially after Apple's move to Intel. Now everything is fundamentally different.

[sash]

Yet another reason why my next computer will be a Hackintosh!

Does it have an exhaust pipe with catalyser, you know, like in a car? A modern PC does. No deadly smells. Perfumes only (Chanel No. 5).

[RITZFit]

population control... hell, everything causes cancer now eh? new car smell, bacon, kittens...

[PowerFullMac]

population control... hell, everything causes cancer now eh? new car smell, bacon, kittens...

...plastic bottles, mobile phones, cordless phones, iTunes, iPods (well, they blow you up more than give you cancer :p), TVs, magazines, newspapers... :rolleyes:

[Cave Man]

Does it have an exhaust pipe with catalyser, you know, like in a car? A modern PC does. No deadly smells. Perfumes only (Chanel No. 5).

I'm seriously considering building an enclosure out of wood, something like cherry and walnut. I gotta figure out a grounding system, though. Not for toxins or the such, just because I'd like my hackintosh to blend in with the furniture.

Oh, and you should have just edited your double post.

[sash]

I'm seriously considering building an enclosure out of wood, something like cherry and walnut.

Great idea! I'm thinking about a wooden enclosure for my wife's iron.

[keysersoze]

population control... hell, everything causes cancer now eh? new car smell, bacon, kittens...

Kittens don't cause cancer! :mad:

hahahaha I love the responses:D

[sash]

Kittens don't cause cancer!

Is that a fact? Have you got Greenpeace to independently analyse their smell?

[PowerFullMac]

Is that a fact? Have you got Greenpeace to independently analyse their smell?

LMFAO! :D

[Eidorian]

population control... hell, everything causes cancer now eh? new car smell, bacon, kittens...My landlady laid down her opinion on cancer to me. Everyone is going to get it eventually. You just might die before you do.

If you're interested in the MSDS for your Apple products (http://www.apple.com/environment/resources/msds.html).

[sash]

My landlady laid down her opinion on cancer to me.

Have you considered a wooden enclosure for her?

[RITZFit]

Kittens don't cause cancer! :mad:


its only a matter of time before a new study surfaces http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y276/4spauto/xyxnervous.gif

[nick9191]

Apparently if you burn your toast or your chips (fries) too much the burn bits have a cancer causing chemical.

I wish I were making this up.

[sash]

Apparently if you burn your toast or your chips (fries) too much the burn bits have a cancer causing chemical.

That's true.

[Mackilroy]

Apparently if you burn your toast or your chips (fries) too much the burn bits have a cancer causing chemical.

I wish I were making this up.

My Spanish teacher (a man in his late fifties-early sixties) eats most of his cooked food burnt, has done so for decades, and has never had cancer.

[grue]

My Spanish teacher (a man in his late fifties-early sixties) eats most of his cooked food burnt, has done so for decades, and has never had cancer.

Just as not all smokers get cancer.

But as for the topic at hand, if you spend your whole life worrying about what's dangerous and what's not, you're never going to have time to enjoy it. Do what you want to do and make the most of your time on this planet. You're likely to only get around 75 years, try not to waste 'em on hype and drama.

[sash]

My Spanish teacher (a man in his late fifties-early sixties) eats most of his cooked food burnt, has done so for decades, and has never had cancer.

Don't despair, man! Try Mac Pro on him. Get him sniff its killing smell!

[hagjohn]

eek... Benzene isn't anything to fool around with and certainly not anything you want your kids around.

[UltraNEO*]

I'm pretty sure all those chemical compounds are there to make everyone even more addicted into using and buying Mac goods. Great job Apple! pity they don't have the pear-drop aroma, that one I do like.


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2905190373_9c8ee9d1a5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/ultraneo/)

A warning label for those bottom feeders/windows fanboyz
:D

[MVApple]

I can't believe the responses I'm hearing. I don't know if people just really don't care or if its the apple fanboys in them coming out.

Yes there are a lot of things that cause cancer, which is why cancer is so prevalent in the 21st century. But just because you are going to die doesn't mean you should die younger than you should have or die from something as terrible as cancer.

It's like the arguements that some people that smoke give, it just kills me. "You know all the air you breath is dirty so my smoke won't do anything to you." Ummm WRONG. Just because I can't eliminate all my exposure to toxins doesn't mean I shouldn't LIMIT my exposure to even more toxins.

The body has a toxin threshold, a limit to how much toxins it can take. So yes the air we breathe isn't pure, and yeah those french fries have some carcinogens but the dosage makes the difference. You keep upping the dosage and you're going to get sick so the SMART thing to do is to not expose yourself unnecessarily.

Benzene is nothing to fool around with either. Anyone that works with benzene needs to take serious precautions and ever since we found out how toxic benzene is, it is no longer used in the laboratory's of high schools or undergraduate students. Professors and graduate students may work on it but they know to take serious precautions. Obviously we still work with chemicals that cause cancer, but they aren't as toxic as benzene.

All new computers emit toxic smells. That's why new offices with new computers can make some people sick since the air gets recirculated in some offices. Anyways this post is getting long but I'd be concerned if Benzene was being emitted because we don't know how much it is emitting. Obviously Apple has said "they are working on it" which is an acknowledgement that there is a problem.

[MVApple]

Just as not all smokers get cancer.

But as for the topic at hand, if you spend your whole life worrying about what's dangerous and what's not, you're never going to have time to enjoy it. Do what you want to do and make the most of your time on this planet. You're likely to only get around 75 years, try not to waste 'em on hype and drama.

Yeah like that guy who has smoked all his life 50+ years and is still strong? He's the exception. This scientist who worked with Thomas Edison rinsed glasswear with Benzene (common thing to do at the time) and he rinsed his hands with it too. He was 90 years old and didn't get leukimia or cancer, not sure if he got it later on though. Again, he's the exception.

Go talk to the guy who's on a respirator or who's going through chemotherapy because the exposed themselves to abestos, cigeratte smoking etc. and didn't heed the warnings and they'll tell you to be SMART. Don't enjoy yourself now at the risk of NOT being able to enjoy yourself later.

And get that dumb notion out of your head that there are only two extremes, those who worry all the time and those who don't worry. No one is saying spend all your time worrying, you don't obsess about it but you make smart informed decisions and carry on with the rest of your day.

What a lot of people don't seem to understand is that how long you live isn't quite as important as to the quality of life you live. I'd rather live till I'm 60 assuming I die from say natural causes in a state where I was still able to care for myself and do things I enjoy doing, than say live to 90 with various ailments that cripple me and make me depend on others.

[sash]

I can't believe the responses I'm hearing. I don't know if people just really don't care or if its the apple fanboys in them coming out.

That's all the fanboy's stuff. Thank you for pointing that out.

Point is that after Apple has moved to Intel, it uses pretty much same parts and materials as others. So -- in my understanding -- focusing on Macs in this respect would not be intellectually honest. If there are toxins, they should be present in _all_ consumer PC's and workstations, made around those times using similar technology and materials.

Obviously Apple has said "they are working on it" which is an acknowledgement that there is a problem.

Obviously, Apple has said something entirely different, namely:
“We have not found anything that supports this claim, but continue to investigate it for the customer,” Apple spokesman Bill Evans told Macworld.

http://www.macworld.com/article/135835/2008/10/macpro_benzene.html?lsrc=rss_main

sash

[alam]

well i'm also smelling weird smell from my imac, it's like something is burning inside of it, could it be also toxins?

[UltraNEO*]

well i'm also smelling weird smell from my imac, it's like something is burning inside of it, could it be also toxins?

You'll probably find that all new electrical equipment will have some sort of aroma when it's new, so unless you can actually smell smoke and see fire, I doubt there's anything serious to worry about.

My motorcar had a funny/odd plastic smell, perhaps it's parts was emitting toxic fumes too? Wait, I know.. Maybe I'll return it to the manufactures for inspection or better yet, contact national security, cause it could be a bomb? :rolleyes:

[sash]

well i'm also smelling weird smell from my imac, it's like something is burning inside of it, could it be also toxins?

Hi,

At this point, it's only a rumour concerning earlier Mac Pro.

But if you indeed are smelling something like that, contact your reseller or service techs (no sarcasm at all), that's not normal... I've just got a new iMac -- it's pretty much odourless.

sash

[alam]

Hi,

At this point, it's only a rumour concerning earlier Mac Pro.

But if you indeed are smelling something like that, contact your reseller or service tech (no sarcasm at all), that's not normal... I've just got a new iMac -- it's pretty much odorless.

sash

well i was having some problems lately with my imac, i took it to my reseller about my problem and i was having some speed and hdd issues and my reseller said that i needed to change my logic board, thank god that my imac is still on warranty.
so i guess that my imac is going to be fresh new inside :cool:
thanks anyway

[rpaloalto]

After hearing of this last night. I could not help my self, from remembering this post. I saw over at the apple support forums.

this guy smells pot coming from his mac
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7491028&

[bluefire75]

Great, so Mac Pros fart?

[sash]

After hearing of this last night. I could not help my self, from remembering this post. I saw over at the apple support forums.

this guy smells pot coming from his mac

Lucky he... It's not a standard feature? Must have been a BTO.

[Pressure]

Had you bothered to search you would have found a few threads about certain individuals Mac Pro's smelling up their place but it is only a handful of people out of every Mac Pro ever sold.

This issue is as old as the first Mac Pro, basically old news.

[nick9191]

:eek:

[sash]

:eek:

Like Marsellus Wallace would have said: I'll be damned.
I'm speechless. How in the world could I have missed this option?

If I'd be interested in that upgrade, should I call the Apple On-line Store or better approach a local dealer?

[sash]

I just read this here:

Hi,

Just a thought.

A false blogger post (you know what I mean, not mentioning this idiot Bloomberg's obituary).

Apple's shares went down.

Somebody's probably got big money. Anyway, the issue is serious enough to be investigated by SEC.

What I'm asking myself now: are these toxic rumours a bit of the same trick?

sash

[Mac pro 8]

I agree 100% Apple is using Atomic super conducting generators also known as (ASCG's) to make their computers run faster and more efficient then others:eek:. If you stay on your Mac long enough you may become light headed and pass out. Some have experienced radioactive burns on the their fingers, Hands and Eye's. So I warn anybody using these EXTREMELY POWERFUL MACHINES also known as (EPM's) to wear a protective suit with gas mask, or risk a chance of your body bursting into flames.:D

[PowerFullMac]

Its not Wi-Fi or mobile phones that will kill us, people, its the Mac Pros! :eek:

[zer0tails]

i miss the new apple smell when it fades.

[peejack]

Are they saying this is happening on the PRE Early 2008 model???

[PowerFullMac]

i miss the new apple smell when it fades.

Same, I love that smell, I could still smell it on my iBook G3... Not on my MacBook though!

[elvisizer]

there's no mention of the concentration of any of these toxins, so there's no way to tell if this is something to be concerned about or not.
Also, there's the little fact that ALL PC's give off toxins constantly from the power supply in the form of PCB's. It's not like you're getting aromatherapy from ANY computer.

[rpaloalto]

I just wanted to agree with the last few posters. About that new computer smell. I love that new mac smell. My mac pro with new cinema display has faded. It is now more than 5 months old. I miss it now that its gone.

When her sent was present. It was comforting to have all three of my senses satisfied. Touch, sight and smell.:D

[Kallis]

Actually, some weeks ago I bought a Mac Pro, and today, for the first
time, I used it continuously for several hours (appr. 3). I have got
used to that strange smell, but this time, sitting there for so long,
it made me feel sick to my stomach. I felt like I was going to vomit,
and that feeling did not go away until I went outside for some time.
However, when I got back back inside the house, I felt that strange
Mac Pro smell again, and started to feel sick again. I also felt poor
in my chest. I opened a lot of doors and windows in order to ventilate
the house properly. Eventually, I managed to stay inside, but it toook
sometime to get rid of the sickness I felt in my stomach and the pain
I had in my chest.

By using my IBM computer, I checked the internet to look for
corresponding experiences, and found this page and all the comments
regarding this issue. Let me tell you this; you can rest assure I
will not use my Mac Pro again! I will ask Apple to solve this for me.

PS! My Mac Pro is placed in a very small room with hardly any air
sirculation. Even the ceiling is sloping, so I guess the conditions
are perfect in order to get sick, if my Mac really leak toxic gasses.

PS2! If you are going to be sarcastic about this issue, then please dont. Some people may have been injured for life by this.

[NightSailor]

More likelky it was a case of flatulence.

[zer0tails]

i use my mac pro for 14 hours straight and have not had the slightest whiff of smell coming from it. Not sure what this issue is about. I suggest opening up and trying to locate which part the smell emanates from.