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Check your watchband for toxic forever chemicals
Your a health-oriented individual, and you track your health with a band-based product.
If you’re using a fitness tracker or smartwatch, you may want to consider the potential risks associated with your wristbands. You heard this correctly; Health warning: your band may be poisoning you ! We all assumed the tracking was a great idea and had no idea that manufacturers were using PFOAs, the forever family of chemicals in the bands.
New News:
A recent study by the University of Notre Dame found that many, especially high-end smartwatch bands (>$30) , contain fluoroelastomers. This material contains toxic PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). You might be surprised to learn that it’s made from chemicals called PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyls). PFAS are a group of chemicals that have been linked to health problems and environmental contamination.
In the past, manufacturers used shorter-chain PFAS as a helper ingredient (called a surfactant) to make the fluoroelastomers. This means that even though the fluoroelastomers themselves are not PFAS, they were made using PFAS in the manufacturing process.
When used in textiles and wearable devices, fluoroelastomers are designed to help the material retain its color and endure contact with oils in the skin, sweat, and personal care products, such as sunscreen and hand lotion.
Health Issues:
Now for the real issue: it turns out that we absorb a fair amount of these chemicals and it’s worse when we sweat. The end result is the chemicals becomes detectable in our blood stream.
PFAS are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment and can accumulate in the body, posing long-term health risks. The study found that every fluoroelastomer band tested contained PFAS, with some having concentrations above 16,000 parts per billion. This level of content is substantially higher than would be healthy.
Studies have suggested that PFAS’s may cause neurotoxicity in our brain, affect our livers, reproductive and cardiovascular health and disrupt our hormones. The worst issue with this chemical family is their persistence in our bodies for years.
New Regulation:
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently released a report highlighting the potential health risks associated with PFHxA one of this family of chemicals commonly found in consumer products. The report suggests that exposure to PFHxA may lead to liver, developmental, blood, and hormonal problems in humans.
You can read the EPA’s report on PFHxA here: https://www.epa.gov/iris/pfhxa
Additionally, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has banned the use of PFHxA in various consumer and industrial products, including clothing and textiles, due to concerns about its impact on the environment and human health.
As more research emerges, it’s likely that PFHxA will face even stricter regulations in the future. This is especially concerning for consumers who wear fluoroelastomer watch bands, which can expose them to high concentrations of PFHxA on their skin.
Researchers suggest opting for silicone bands instead of fluoroelastomers since silicone bands were found to have little to no detectable PFAS. You can find silicone bands from a number of brands.
Take Aways:
- Silicone bands:
- Look for transparency: When shopping for higher-end bands, check the product labels. Avoid bands made with fluoroelastomers, which are more likely to contain PFAS.
- Limit wear time: If you’re worried about exposure, consider taking off your smartwatch during sleep or long periods of inactivity.
- Push for safer alternatives: Support efforts to hold manufacturers accountable by advocating for more transparency and the use of safer, well-regulated alternatives to PFAS in products.
Remember, as consumers, we have the power to demand safer products and advocate for better regulation. By making informed choices and pushing for change, we can protect our health and the health of our loved ones.
Sources:
- University of Notre Dame News: https://news.nd.edu/news/researchers-detect-elevated-levels-of-pfas-in-some-fitness-tracker-and-smartwatch-bands/
- Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas
