Alarming information: A brand new examine finds that a number of manufacturers of health tracker and smartwatch bands comprise “very excessive concentrations” of a man-made chemical that may hurt our well being.
College of Notre Dame researchers examined 22 wristbands at numerous worth factors — many had been manufactured with fluoroelastomers, artificial rubbers designed to repel sweat, pores and skin oils and water.
9 of the bands had elevated ranges of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), a sort of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds are often called “endlessly chemical compounds” — and so they’ve been linked to a number of well being issues, together with an elevated threat of sure cancers.
“Probably the most outstanding factor we discovered on this examine was the very excessive concentrations of only one PFAS — there have been some samples above 1,000 elements per billion of PFHxA, which is way greater than most PFAS we now have seen in client merchandise,” stated Graham Peaslee, examine co-author and professor emeritus within the Division of Physics and Astronomy.
PFAS have been detected in quick meals containers, non-stick cookware, stain- and water resistant materials, shampoo, cosmetics, paints and adhesives, amongst different merchandise.
Smartwatches and health trackers are very fashionable wearable expertise. In a 2019 survey, 21% of American adults reported carrying one typically.
Peaslee stated that is the primary examine to deal with PFAS in health trackers and smartwatch bands.
They’re referred to as “endlessly chemical compounds” as a result of they don’t simply break down within the atmosphere, persisting in soil and groundwater for lengthy intervals. A examine out this week discovered they’re pervasive in public water methods.
PFAS have been linked to well being points equivalent to lowered immune operate, elevated ldl cholesterol, thyroid dysfunction, liver injury, developmental delays in youngsters and an elevated threat of sure cancers, significantly kidney and testicular cancers.
“Few research up to now have been printed relating to the dermal absorption of PFAS,” stated Alyssa Wicks, a graduate scholar in Peaslee’s lab and lead examine writer.
“One article printed [in 2024] by a European analysis group discovered {that a} couple sorts of PFAS had vital switch by the pores and skin,” Wicks continued. “That preliminary examine solely examined round 20 of the 14,000 recognized sorts of PFAS, and extra research are wanted to higher perceive how PFAS journey by the pores and skin.”
In Wicks’s examine, elevated ranges of PFHxA had been present in watchbands that price over $15.
Publicity to excessive doses of PFHxA might hurt the liver, thyroid, pink blood cell rely and the creating fetus.
Three of the bands included within the evaluation had been deemed costly as a result of they price over $30 — all three contained significantly excessive quantities of fluorine.
Elevated fluorine ranges are a robust indicator of PFAS contamination, the researchers stated, as a result of all PFAS molecules comprise fluorine atoms.
“Fifteen of the 22 bands we examined had a excessive proportion of whole fluorine concentrations, and 9 contained PFHxA,” Wicks stated. “The others used another unidentified surfactant that wasn’t in our focused evaluation.”
The findings had been printed just lately within the Environmental Science & Know-how Letters journal.
Peaslee stated the outcomes warrant a extra complete examine on PFAS in watchbands.