A brand new examine has discovered that the bands on some smartwatches might need chemical compounds that might trigger well being issues, together with most cancers and fertility points. 

These chemical compounds are known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), they usually’re utilized in many merchandise like nonstick pans, materials, and cosmetics. As a result of these chemical compounds don’t break down simply, they’re usually known as “ceaselessly chemical compounds.”

The examine, revealed within the journal Environmental Science & Expertise Letters, checked out 22 totally different smartwatch manufacturers and located PFAS in 15 of them. It didn’t identify the precise manufacturers however famous that the costlier watches had been extra more likely to have larger ranges of those dangerous chemical compounds.

PFAS are regarding as a result of they will keep within the atmosphere and in our our bodies for a very long time. They’ve been discovered within the air, water, soil, and even inside animals like fish. Analysis has linked them to a number of well being issues, similar to sure sorts of most cancers and points with having youngsters.

The primary fear with smartwatches is that individuals put on them for about 11 hours a day, which might permit PFAS to get absorbed by the pores and skin. This examine means that hundreds of thousands of individuals within the U.S. and the UK could possibly be uncovered to those chemical compounds on daily basis.

Often, PFAS get into the physique when individuals swallow or breathe them in. Nevertheless, this examine means that simply sporting one thing with PFAS in opposition to the pores and skin may be a threat. That is particularly necessary for merchandise that contact our pores and skin straight, like smartwatch bands.

Some smartwatch bands use a kind of PFAS known as fluoroelastomers to maintain their coloration and deal with oil from the pores and skin higher. 

The examine discovered indicators of PFAS in a lot of the bands that stated they contained fluorine, however a couple of bands didn’t record it although that they had PFAS.

Due to these findings, the researchers advise individuals to watch out when shopping for smartwatch bands. They advocate studying the product descriptions carefully and avoiding bands that point out having fluoroelastomers. 

This recommendation comes from research displaying that chemical compounds from merchandise touching the pores and skin could possibly be a major method these dangerous substances get into our our bodies.