A recent study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters has raised concerns about the presence of potentially harmful “forever chemicals” in certain smartwatch wristbands. These chemicals, known as PFAS, are human-made compounds that can persist in both the environment and the human body for decades.
Researchers from the University of Notre Dame screened 22 wristbands from a range of brands and price points. Their findings revealed higher-end wristbands made from fluorinated synthetic rubber contain high concentrations of PFAS, which have been linked to health issues, including cancer and liver damage.
Point phone camera here
Wristbands priced above $30 were found to have higher levels of PFAS compared to those costing less than $15.
“This discovery stands out because of the very high concentrations of one type of forever chemical found in items that are in prolonged contact with our skin,” Graham Peaslee, co-author of the study, said in a statement. “Much higher than most PFAS we have seen in consumer products.”
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set limits for PFAS exposure in drinking water, there are currently no federal regulations regarding skin exposure to these substances.
The Notre Dame researchers indicated that it’s unclear whether the PFAS in these wristbands can transfer to the skin or pose health risks upon contact. Despite the lack of certainty on this, the study’s lead author still recommends choosing lower-cost silicone wristbands as a potentially safer alternative.
[Jack]
SOME SMARTWATCH WRISTBANDS MAY BE EXPOSING WEARERS TO HIGH LEVELS OF FOREVER CHEMICALS-
RAISING CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS.
THAT ACCORDING TO NEW DATA PUBLISHED IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
THE STUDY FOUND HIGHER-END BANDS ARE THE PROBLEM-
BECAUSE THEY’RE MADE FROM FLUORINATED SYNTHETIC RUBBER CONTAINING HIGH CONCENTRATIONS OF PFAS.
THESE HUMAN-MADE COMPOUNDS CAN PERSIST IN BOTH OUR BODIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT FOR DECADES.
SOME HAVE BEEN LINKED TO CANCER, LIVER DAMAGE, AND OTHER SERIOUS HEALTH ISSUES.
RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME SCREENED 22 WRISTBANDS FROM VARIOUS BRANDS AND PRICE POINTS.
THEY FOUND THAT BANDS MADE FROM SYNTHETIC RUBBERS TESTED POSITIVE FOR A KEY INDICATOR OF PFAS.
THEIR EXPERIMENT REVEALED WRISTBANDS COSTING MORE THAN 30 DOLLARS CONTAINED HIGHER CONCENTRATIONS OF THE PFA INDICATOR COMPARED TO THOSE PRICED UNDER 15 DOLLARS.
CURRENTLY, THERE ARE NO FEDERAL REGULATIONS FOR PFAS EXPOSURE ON THE SKIN-
THE EPA HAS SET EXPOSURE LIMITS ONLY FOR CERTAIN TYPES OF THIS SUBSTANCE IN DRINKING WATER.
THE NOTRE DAME TEAM SAYS THEY DON’T CURRENTLY KNOW IF THE PFAS THEY DISCOVERED IN THESE WRISTBANDS CAN TRANSFER INTO THE SKIN-
OR IF THE COMPOUND POSES A HEALTH RISK UPON HUMAN CONTACT.
HOWEVER, THE STUDY’S LEAD AUTHOR STILL RECOMMENDS OPTING FOR LOWER-COST SILICONE WRISTBANDS.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS – I’M JACK AYLMER.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Getty Images
Study finds ‘forever chemicals’ in higher-priced smartwatch wristbands
-
Reuters
Trudeau faces calls to resign amid Trump tariff threats, cabinet conflict
-
Straight Arrow News
Government funding bill gives Congress a raise, sets new rules on ticket sales
-
Getty Images
RFK Jr.’s lawyer: NYT report over polio vaccine petition ‘categorically false’