While wearers of tech devices, like fitness trackers and smartwatches, rely on them for alerts, transactions and health and location information, a new study found these devices contain high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or “forever chemicals” that are leaching from the wristbands into the wearer’ skin.
In a press release from the American Chemical Society (ACS), researchers found elevated level of PFAS in mostly fluorinated synthetic rubber wristbands.
“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, author of the study and professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame, said.
The study conducted on a range of 22 wristbands from makers including Apple (and Apple Watch Nike sport bands), CASETiFY, Fitbit, Google, and Samsung, and analyzed the presence of 20 individual PFAS, including fluorine. The wristbands that contain fluoroelastomers (PFHxA), “which are synthetic rubbers made from PFAS chains,” created a material that is capable of “repelling dirt and avoiding discoloration,” a press release said.
“Many ‘smart’ and ‘fitness’ watch bands are advertised to contain fluoroelastomers, a type of synthetic rubber designed to be resilient against skin oils and sweat,” the study said. “Fluoroelastomers, which are considered a polymeric form of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have historically involved the use of shorter-chain PFAS as surfactants in the polymerization process.”
The study concluded that wristbands over $30 contained a higher level of fluorine than cheaper priced ones under $15. Of the 20 distinct PFAS tested, researchers found that PFHxA was the most common, appearing in nine out of 22 of the tested bands.
“If the consumer wishes to purchase a higher-priced band, we suggest that they read the product descriptions and avoid any that are listed as containing fluoroelastomers,” Alyssa Wicks, a graduate research assistant at the University of Notre Dame Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said.
While researchers are still unsure of the possible health effects of PFHxA that transfer into human skin, Peaslee said the “notable percentage that could potentially pass through the skin under normal conditions” prompts the need for more comprehensive exposure studies.
“The very high concentrations of PFHxA readily extractable from the surfaces of fluoroelastomer watch bands, together with the current limited knowledge on the dermal absorption of PFHxA, demonstrate the need for more comprehensive exposure studies of PFHxA,” the study said.
To read Apple’s commitment to phasing out PFAS from its products and manufacturing processes, click here.
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