Nowadays, it seems that everyone has some sort of game console. If you don’t have an Xbox 360, a Playstation 3 or a Nintendo Wii, you’re just not considered cool.

But whether you’re a green gamer or not, you might want to take a second look at how these consoles could be harming your physical health.

According to the “Playing Dirty Report” written by Greenpeace, all three of the above listed consoles contain a variety of hazardous chemicals.

So what kind of chemicals are in these consoles?

1. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – Polymer that contains dioxin, which can cause immune system problems, reproductive disorders and a variety of cancers.
2. Beryllium – Element that if inhaled, can lead to acute beryllium disease, which is like pneumonia, and it can also lead to lung cancer.
3. Bromine – Element that can irritate mucous membranes and also cause burns.
4. Phthalates – Family of compounds made from alcohols and phthalic anhydride that can lead to asthma, cancer and other health-related problems.

Now don’t run home and throw away your PS3, Xbox or Wii in fear that you’ll acquire cancer from it.

Secondly, game consoles, along with cell phones, computers and other electronics, are huge contributors to overcrowded landfills.

Instead of throwing your console away, receive cash for it by sending it to BuyMyTronics.com, which is a company that buys and recycles used iPods, cell phones and game consoles.

You can read the entire Greenpeace article here.

Video game systems will always be popular and they’ll always be in demand.

The best way to make sure that they stay toxic-free is for you to write the game makers and tell them to find more eco-friendly ways to manufacture their products.