Fitness trackers and smartwatches, designed to promote health, may come with a hidden cost. A study from the University of Notre Dame revealed that these devices are often made with harmful PFAS chemicals.
GOT A SMART WATCH? Check your watch band. Experts reveal some sports watch bands contain PFAs chemicals tied to everything from cancer and infertility to autoimmune disease.https://t.co/eva8acH9DG
— 7News DC (@7NewsDC) December 19, 2024
Known for their durability, PFAS chemicals do not break down easily and build up in the environment and human body. Exposure to these substances has been linked to cancer, immune system issues, and lower testosterone levels in men. Wearables pose a unique risk as prolonged skin contact allows PFAS to seep into the body.
Are You Wearing Your Health Tracker… or a Chemical Cocktail?
We’ve all jumped on the fitness bandwagon, tracking steps, monitoring heart rates, and logging sleep—all thanks to those sleek, colorful smartwatches.
But a recent study has revealed a shocking side effect of our… pic.twitter.com/OEQmeyByXG
— Tech Demystified ♨ ✍ (@bigfundu) December 29, 2024
Expensive fitness bands were found to have the highest concentrations, with some reaching over 1,000 parts per billion. For comparison, PFAS levels in drinking water are considered unsafe at just four parts per trillion.
Smart Watch Wristbands: To date, there are no federal regulatory limits that dictate safety levels for PFAS exposure through the skin. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency only has set exposure thresholds for drinking water — and for six types of PFAS alone.
— Paul Fisher (@PaulFis92271322) December 19, 2024
Children’s use of these devices adds another layer of concern. Kids often wear trackers for extended periods, increasing their exposure to these dangerous chemicals. Developing bodies are particularly vulnerable to hormonal disruptions caused by PFAS.
A recent study in Environmental Science & Technology Letters found many smartwatch and fitness watch bands made from fluoroelastomers contain harmful “forever chemicals,” particularly perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). PFHxA, part of the PFAS family, resists breakdown, accumulates… pic.twitter.com/NVP1tGeFVD
— Faust (@faustofm) December 26, 2024
Data privacy is also at risk. Many wearables collect and share user information with third parties, raising questions about how this data is handled.
Those smooth fluoroelastomer apple watch bands also leak pfas into your body. So tiresome https://t.co/hIKbV77ySQ
— Meta Boli (@meta_boli) December 25, 2024
The study noted that fluorine, a key marker for PFAS, was present in even the cheapest bands.
