In fact, HP claims on its web site that the brominated flame retardant known as decaBDE was removed from its product line years ago, but our test results proved otherwise. We also proved that the HP laptop had high levels of a number of other chemicals, including the highest levels by far of PBDEs (a class of BFRs). Lead was also found in the soldering.

As a result of these latest tests, HP has been downgraded on our Toxic Technology report card.  HP was third, but has now slipped to sixth position, with 4.7 out of 10, down from 5.7.

But of all the laptops tested, Apple’s Macbook was the most contaminated, with the highest level of another type of toxic flame retardant, tetrabromobisphenol A.

The scariest result of these tests won't be found in the lab, but rather in Asian scrapyards where young children dismantle these computers by hand, and are exposed to all of the toxic chemicals within them.

It doesn’t take a scientific study to see that we’re being sold a pack of lies and poison apples.