Apple products make up a significant part of the tech market. Used by millions of people globally, the company is the maker of the world’s most popular smartphone. Recently, Apple issued a couple of health warnings that may be putting adults and children at risk.
Published June 25, the Apple statement reveals that magnets used in several of their products could interfere with medical implants like defibrillators and pacemakers. In the report, the company lists several of their products that should be kept at least 6 inches away from medical implants.
“If you suspect that your Apple product is interfering with your medical device, stop using your Apple product and consult your physician and your medical device manufacturer,” suggests the company.
The magnets appear in a variety of products, commonly used to secure charger connections and device lids. Air Pods, Apple Watches, iPads, and more accessories are included on this list.
Recently, the American Heart Association published a study that looked into Apple devices running interference on pacemakers and defibrillators. Eleven out of 14 devices experienced interference after placing an Apple device near them while planted inpatient or out of their box.
“We have always known that magnets can interfere with cardiac implantable electronic devices, however, we were surprised by the strength of the magnets used in the iPhone 12 magnet technology,” said Dr. Michael Wu, the study’s lead investigator. The strength of these magnets is a risk since a lot of people carry their phones in their shirt’s front pocket.
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Another Apple accessory that was deemed risky, this time for children, is AirTags. This iPhone accessory, used to keep track of stuff that can be lost, was deemed dangerous by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) due to how easy it is to access the device’s lithium battery. Apple is currently in conversation with the ACCC in order to resolve this issue.
