Beijing, Sept. 1 (Reuters): Chinese environmental groups accused Apple Inc of turning a blind eye as its suppliers polluted the country, the latest criticism of the technology company’s environmental record.

Toxic discharges from “suspected Apple suppliers” have been encroaching on local communities and environments, a coalition of environmental organisations said yesterday in a 46-page report alleging efforts to conceal pollution.

“The large volume of discharge in Apple’s supply chain greatly endangers the public’s health and safety,” said the report, issued on the website of the Beijing-based Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (http://www.ipe.org.cn).

The report alleges that 27 suspected Apple suppliers had severe pollution problems, from toxic gases to heavy metal sludge. In one case, the report said, a nearby village experienced a “phenomenal rise in cases of cancer”. Apple has decided to “take advantage of loopholes” in developing countries’ environmental management systems to “grab super profits”, it said.

The environmental groups said five months of research and field investigation led to the findings in the report.