Smartwatches, often marketed as health tools, may pose risks to both health and privacy. Research from the University of Notre Dame shows that wearable bands often contain PFAS, chemicals linked to long-term health problems.
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
PFAS exposure has been associated with developmental delays in children and hormonal disruptions in adults. Prolonged skin contact with these chemicals, common with round-the-clock wearable use, allows them to enter the body through absorption.
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 bands appear to pose the greatest risk, with some products showing PFAS levels exceeding 1,000 parts per billion. Cheaper bands were found to contain lower levels but were not entirely free of these harmful substances.
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
Parents buying wearables for children should be aware of these dangers. Children’s smaller bodies are more vulnerable, and long-term exposure can lead to significant health challenges.
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
Privacy concerns compound the issue. Fitness trackers continuously collect user data, including precise location information. Inadequate security measures have enabled hackers to exploit such devices in the past.
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
Researchers stress that PFAS chemicals are also prevalent in everyday items like nonstick cookware and waterproof clothing.
