AKIPRESS.COM - Tech giant Apple has banned the use of two chemicals in the production of iPhones and iPads in order to protect the factory workers in China who make them.

The firm took the decision after a petition was launched by two activist groups - China Labour Watch and Green America - calling on Apple to stop using benzene and n-hexane to make the smart devices, the Mirror said.

Apples says a investigation at 22 factories found no evidence tho two chemicals endangered the 500,000 people who work at the plants

No traces of the chemicals were detected at 18 of the factories and the amounts found at the other four factories fell within acceptable safety levels, the firm said.

Nevertheless, Apple decided to order its suppliers to stop using benzene and n-hexane during the final assembly of iPhones, iPads, iPods, Mac computers and various accessories.

Apple is also ordering all its factories to test all substances to ensure that they do not contain benzene or n-hexane, even if the chemicals are not listed in the ingredients.

Benzene is a carcinogen that can cause leukaemia if not handled properly and n-hexane has been linked to nerve damage.

Apple is still allowing use of the two chemicals during the early production phases of its products - activities that primarily take place at other factories besides the ones responsible for the final assembly of the devices.

As an additional precaution, Apple is lowering the maximum amount of benzene and n-hexane that can present in the materials used during those earlier phases of production.