A new lawsuit has been filed in the Northern District of California against Apple regarding fluoroelastomer watch bands.
These bands are the default Sports Band, the Ocean Band and the Nike Sports Band. The lawsuit alleges that the bands include some PFAS chemicals. Health Canada says these chemicals are sometimes found in cosmetics, electronics, sunscreens and more.
The health agency also says, “PFAS do not break down easily. For this reason, they stay in the environment for long periods of time. People are exposed to PFAS in products available to consumers, food, drinking water, outdoor and indoor air, and house dust.”
The lawsuit is based on a study from scientists and the University of Notre Dame, which claims nearly all smartwatch and fitness tracker devices use sweat-resistant rubber containing harmful chemicals that can cause issues with prolonged exposure. Since people usually wear fitness wearables all the time, there is an increased risk.
The study also found that some watched straps sample at above-average rates for PFAS in consumer products, which the lawsuit alleges goes against the health-conscious mindset of people buying fitness trackers. Apple pledged to remove all the PFAS from its products in late 2022, so ideally, we’ll see new bands this year at the fall iPhone event.
Other smart watch bands that include these chemicals include the default Pixel Watch strap and the Galaxy Watch Sport’s T-Buckle band. The OnePlus Watch Fluoro-rubber strap also contains PFAS. The watches themselves are safe, but you might want to get a fabric, leather or metal band if you’re worried about your long-term exposure to chemicals.
Update Jan 24, 1:18PM: Apple has issued the following statement – “Apple Watch bands are safe for users to wear. In addition to our own testing, we also work with independent laboratories to conduct rigorous testing and analysis of the materials used in our products, including Apple Watch bands.”
Source: The Register
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