Smartwatches and fitness trackers marketed to children might be exposing them to harmful chemicals, a study warns. Researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that wearable bands contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are known to disrupt hormones and impair development.
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
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
Prolonged skin contact is a major concern, as PFAS can transfer into the body through sweat and warmth. Children wearing these devices regularly are at risk of long-term health impacts, including developmental delays and puberty disruption.
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
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
Parents often buy these devices for safety or health reasons, but the risks may outweigh the benefits. Expensive trackers tend to have higher levels of PFAS, though lower-cost options are not entirely safe either.
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
Wearables also raise privacy concerns, especially for children. Researchers have highlighted vulnerabilities in devices that allow unauthorized tracking or even direct communication with kids.
Before buying a smartwatch, parents should consider the potential dangers these gadgets pose to both health and security.
