Looking to give a fitness tracker or smartwatch this holiday season? New University of Notre Dame research reveals a hidden concern: The wristbands on these popular products might expose wearers to the harmful “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
Many high-end smartwatch bands are made with fluoroelastomer, a material prized for its strength, flexibility and resistance to sweat – perfect for everyday wear. But products made with this material contain toxic PFAS, known to harm health.
While forever chemicals are prized for their durability and water resistance, their widespread presence in consumer products is causing growing unease. PFAS persist in the environment, and some accumulate over time in the body, posing long-term health risks.
The new study adds to the growing body of research revealing that PFAS are much more commonly found in a broad range of products than previously realized. And that increases the risk of greater exposure.
Researchers found the forever chemical perfluorohexanoic acid, or PFHxA, at the highest levels in the 22 fitness bands and smartwatches tested. The Environmental Protection Agency says this substance likely causes developmental, blood cell, liver and hormone harms.
Separate recent research suggests that PFAS may be absorbed by the skin. A 2024 study published in Environment International confirmed PFAS can pass through the skin and enter the bloodstream. People often wear smartwatches and fitness daily for many hours, so the question arises whether their risk goes up as a result.
PFAS contamination is a public health crisis. The chemicals are toxic at extremely low levels. Low doses are also linked to suppression of the immune system. Studies show exposure to PFAS can also increase the risk of cancer, harm fetal development and reduce vaccine effectiveness.
Tests of popular bands
The results of the new Notre Dame study are startling. Every fluoroelastomer band tested contained PFAS, with concentrations of PFHxA above 16,000 parts per billion, or ppb, in some samples. By comparison, when the same team tested for PFAS in cosmetics last year, the median concentration was just 200 ppb, suggesting much greater exposure from the bands.
Graham Peaslee, Ph.D., professor emeritus at Notre Dame’s Department of Physics and Astronomy, led the study’s research team.
Peaslee’s latest study also found that bands over $30 contained far higher levels of fluorine – which can indicate the presence of PFAS – than those under $15. Premium bands may therefore pose greater exposure risks, compared to more affordable alternatives.
Two bands that did not advertise being made of fluoroelastomers tested positive for PFAS. This shows that the problem of PFAS isn’t limited to just one brand or product that discloses its use of forever chemicals. Instead, it’s a widespread concern in many of these bands.
Lack of transparency
The same concern is true for a vast array of consumer goods that people interact with every day or frequently, from food packaging to clothing – and now, even wearable tech. Thousands of PFAS are used commercially for hundreds of different uses.
Chemical companies and manufacturers often tout the supposed safety of PFAS in products. Yet little public information is available about their safety.
And the diverse use of these chemicals and the high levels detected across such a broad range of goods instills doubt about whether companies are upfront about PFAS safety and whether consumers are getting full transparency.
Shoppers deserve more clarity about what’s in the products they buy. Governments must take stronger action to regulate and ensure the safety of chemicals used in popular products, across many categories, before they reach the market.
The public shouldn’t have to wait for research like Peaslee’s latest study to find out that harmful chemicals lurk in their smartwatches or fitness bands. And they deserve to know how constant, direct skin contact with PFAS may affect their health, particularly given the known dangers of these chemicals and their longevity.
PFAS are known as forever chemicals because once released into the environment they do not break down, they accumulate in wildlife and they pose long-term risks to human health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected PFAS in the blood of 99 percent of Americans, including newborn babies.
What can you do?
If you're concerned about exposure to PFAS in smartwatch and fitness tracker bands, here are steps you can take to reduce your risk:
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Choose silicone bands. Researchers suggest opting for silicone bands instead of fluoroelastomers, since silicone bands were found to have little to no detectable PFAS.
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Read product descriptions carefully. When shopping for higher-end bands, check the product labels. Avoid bands made with fluoroelastomers, which are more likely to contain PFAS.
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Limit wear time. If you’re worried about exposure, consider taking off your smartwatch during sleep or long periods of inactivity.
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Push for safer alternatives. Support efforts to hold manufacturers accountable by advocating for more transparency and the use of safer, well-regulated alternatives to PFAS in products.
The Notre Dame study should serve as a wake-up call. As consumers shop for gifts this holiday season, it’s important to consider the materials used in smartwatch and fitness tracker bands. An understanding of what’s in the products we use every day is key to protecting our health, along with advocating for safer, better-regulated options.
