Smartwatches and fitness trackers, popular for monitoring health, may pose hidden dangers. A study from the University of Notre Dame reveals these devices are often made with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), harmful chemicals linked to cancer, hormonal issues, and developmental 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 is particularly concerning for men, as it can lower testosterone levels. Wearable bands expose users to these chemicals through direct skin contact, which increases over prolonged use.
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
Children are especially at risk due to their sensitivity to chemical exposure. Parents buying these devices for safety reasons should be aware of the potential for developmental harm and privacy breaches.
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
Many wearables collect and share user data with third parties, raising questions about how this information is used. Past incidents have shown how location data from fitness trackers can expose sensitive details, even endangering national security in some cases.
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
Consumers should evaluate whether these devices truly benefit health or create unnecessary risks.
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
