Elevated levels of 'forever chemicals' found in smartwatch bands – here's what you need to know

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra
(Image credit: Future / Matt Evans)
  • Scientists have tested the level of PFAS in some consumer smartwatch bands
  • They found elevated levels of "forever chemicals" in some models
  • These chemicals are potentially toxic and have been linked to diseases such as cancer

Scientists from the University of Notre Dame have called for more comprehensive studies and greater transparency from manufacturers after a study found elevated levels of so-called "forever chemicals" in some consumer smartwatch and fitness tracker bands.

The study, published this week in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, analyzed 22 watch bands from numerous brands and price points and found that some of these bands contained elevated levels of PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), namely perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). These chemicals are colloquially known as "forever chemicals" because they have an almost unbreakable chemical structure which means they don't degrade or break down over time.

The tested brands include many of the best smartwatch manufacturers and accessory makers including Apple (and Apple Watch Nike sport bands), CASETiFY, Fitbit, Google, and Samsung.

As reported by Notre Dame News, nine of the 22 bands tested contained elevated levels of PFHxA, with more expensive bands generally found to have higher levels.

"The most remarkable thing we found in this study was the very high concentrations of just one PFAS — there were some samples above 1,000 parts per billion of PFHxA, which is much higher than most PFAS we have seen in consumer products," said Graham Peaslee, study co-author and professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

PFAs in smartwatch bands, should you be worried?

Fitbit Inspire 2

(Image credit: Future)

"This discovery stands out because of the very high concentrations of one type of forever chemical found in items that are in prolonged contact with our skin," Peaslee told Independent. "We have never seen extractable concentrations in the part-per-million range for any wearable consumer product applied to the skin," he warned. The study's lead author, Alyssa Wicks, recommends buying lower-cost silicone bands, or avoiding products listed as containing fluoroelastomers if they want a more expensive band.

While the study does mention some big names in the smartwatch sector, notably Apple, Samsung, and Google, it's difficult to extrapolate too much because the study doesn't give the results for each brand. Companies like Apple clearly advertise Fluoroelastomer as present in its best Apple Watch bands, notably its Nike offerings, Sport Band, and the Apple Watch Ultra's Ocean band. However, the study doesn't tell us which of the bands offered by these major players were tested, or if they were the bands with notably high PFA levels.

Samsung and CASETiFY were not immediately available to comment on the story. Apple pointed TechRadar to its work on testing materials and its commitment to totally phasing out PFAS from its products and manufacturing processes from 2022.

More specifically, Apple also highlighted its Regulated Substances Specification document, which specifically lists PFHxA, the offending chemical highlighted in the study, as a restricted substance. Apple says that for PFHxA, its salts and related substances, it has a threshold limit of "25 ppb for the sum of PFHxA and its salts" and "1000 ppb for the sum of PFHxA-related substances."

"Don't panic"

As Wicks notes, there are also "few studies" on the absorption of PFAS through the skin. She cites one such article that found that a couple of types of PFAS had "significant transfer through the skin", but that it was a limited study that only examined 20 of the 14,000 known types of PFAS.

Speaking to Yahoo Life, Jamie Alan, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University called the findings "interesting", but said that the study doesn't give any insight into how much PFHxA is absorbed through the skin, if any is absorbed at all. Other specialists in toxicology and dermatology agreed, stating that it is unlikely a significant amount of PXHxA would be absorbed through the skin. Finally, Alan pointed out that the study involved chemically extracting these compounds from Apple Watch bands, something users aren't doing when they wear these items day-to-day. "So although they found very high levels, that does not mean any significant amount is getting into our system," she concluded.

Alan said there's no need to panic if you own a smartwatch or fitness tracker band with fluoroelastomer, but that "it is good to be aware of cumulative exposure." If you're looking for a new band, you could always choose a PFAS-free option.

You may also like

Stephen Warwick
Fitness & Wearables writer

Stephen Warwick is TechRadar's Fitness & Wearables writer with nearly a decade of experience covering technology, including five years as the News Editor of iMore. He's a keen fitness enthusiast and is never far from the local gym, Apple Watch at the ready, to record his latest workout. Stephen has experience writing about every facet of technology including products, services, hardware, and software. He's covered breaking news and developing stories regarding supply chains, patents and litigation, competition, politics and lobbying, the environment, and more. He's conducted interviews with industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. Outside of work, he's a massive tech and history buff with a passion for Rome Total War, reading, and music. 

Read more
Apple Watch Series 10
'Apple Watch bands are safe for users to wear' – company responds to class-action lawsuit over 'forever chemical' claims
Apple Nike Sport Band on block
The Apple Nike Sport Band is the best watch strap I’ve ever used, here’s why
Apple Watch Series 10 experience
How can we make wearables more sustainable, and is it even possible?
OnePlus Watch 3
OnePlus seeks FDA approval for Sleep Apnea Detection on its watch and takes on Apple in the process
OnePlus Watch 3
OnePlus Watch 3 owners in the US are missing out on vital health and fitness features
Apple watch pair with iphone
Apple sued over 'false and misleading' Apple Watch claims – here's what you need to know
Latest in Smartwatches
Apple Watch Ultra 2 timer
The Apple Watch is getting a sleep alarm upgrade it probably should have had 10 years ago
Google Pixel Watch 3
Google Pixel Watches hit with delayed notifications, crashing, and performance issues following Wear OS 5.1 update
Apple Watch Ultra 2 move data
Apple is reportedly planning a huge future Apple Watch upgrade to turn it into an AI device with onboard cameras
Apple watch pair with iphone
The Apple Watch SE 3 is apparently in 'serious jeopardy', and the news isn't much better for the Ultra 3 or Series 11
Oppo Watch Mini X2 teaser
Oppo Watch X2 Mini teaser could be our first glimpse of the smaller OnePlus Watch 3
Google Pixel Watch 3
Google Pixel Watch 3's Loss of Pulse Detection could save your life – here's how the company created it
Latest in News
FiiO FX17 IEMs
Our favorite budget audiophile brand unveils wired earbuds with 26(!) drivers, electrostatic units, USB-C ultra-Hi-Res Audio, and a not-so-budget price
girl using laptop hoping for good luck with her fingers crossed
Windows 11 24H2 seems to be a massive fail – so Microsoft apparently working on 25H2 fills me with hope... and fear
Code Skull
Interpol operation arrests 300 suspects linked to African cybercrime rings
ChatGPT Advanced Voice mode on a smartphone.
Talking to ChatGPT just got better, and you don’t need to pay to access the new functionality
Insecure network with several red platforms connected through glowing data lines and a black hat hacker symbol
Multiple H3C Magic routers hit by critical severity remote command injection, with no fix in sight
Google Pixel 9a being held, from the back
The Google Pixel 9a’s mysterious delay may have just been explained