this post was submitted on 16 Jan 2025
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254
Report: High levels of toxic chemicals found in Apple, Google, Samsung, and more smartwatch bands (www.phonearena.com)
submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 83 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Missing from the article: actual amounts of PFAS found in the bands, what percentage of it can be absorbed through skin contact, how that compares to other sources the average person might run into, and how much you have to absorb before biological damage emerges out of the statistical noise. The information may be in the original paper, but I'm disinclined to search for it there. Without those numbers, this is meaningless.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

From the paper:

The very high concentrations of PFHxA readily extractable from the surfaces of fluoroelastomer watch bands, together with the current limited knowledge on the dermal absorption of PFHxA, demonstrate the need for more comprehensive exposure studies of PFHxA.

So it sounds more like it’s unclear for now. But probably best to about these bands either way.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

"Very high"

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is just a news article. Also even though they had those informations in the article I won’t trust some journalist about the answers of your big questions and I suggest you the same.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 months ago

One of two things is the case:

  1. The numbers are in the paper, and the person who wrote the article could have transcribed them but is too lazy.

  2. The numbers are not in the paper, in which case I would class the article as inflammatory and irresponsible.

.

Do I trust the journalist? Not in the sense you mean, but I expect them to act responsibly and make a minimum effort.

[–] [email protected] 73 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

How about typical watch bands? Without comparison, I highly doubt this is only happening on smartwatch bands.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 2 months ago

From what I researched, fluoroelastomer is not silicone. Silicone bands are more common.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

If you buy a $10 "fashion watch" from the ugly shiny watch depot at your local dollar mart, odds are you'll have wrist cancer in a month.

Only watches I own are stainless steel, with stainless, leather, or fabric straps.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Silicone bands are not the same as fluoroelastomer, which is what the article is about. A LOT of bands on Amazon are silicone bands.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They asked about typical watch bands.

I use what I consider typical watch bands.

I don't worry about what elastomer or poly whatever is in these other bands.

Silicone is not without risk. And products sold on amazon aren't exactly always as marketed.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4884743/

Anyway, I was commenting on typical.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

That article is not at all what you said it was. It is saying medical grade silicone is safe, not that "non-medical" silicone is not.

Generally, siloxanes (silicones) are well tolerated by the human organism, and therefore they are an integral part of innovative methods of treatment, health care and nursing. They are commonly regarded as non-toxic to humans and the environment, or toxic to a very small extend. However, there is a number of publications in which the scientists and experts question this opinion. Many authors demonstrated that the degree of polymerization and the structure affect the ability to overcome cellular barriers, including stratum corneum of the skin and absorption into the organism, migration in the living organism, ability to accumulate, degradability and toxicity. This particularly applies to low molecular weight siloxanes. It can be concluded in the summary, that an evaluation of the safety of siloxanes application should always refer to a particular compound, not a chemical group. Furthermore, the use of low molecular weight silicones should be reduced, as well as the purity of high molecular weight silicones, which may contain low molecular compounds as impurities, should be monitored. It should be emphasized that in the case of silicones for medical and pharmaceutical use, the manufactures of this group of compounds formed a special class, which they called “Medical Grade Silicones” or “Silicones for Healthcare Application.” These silicones must meet certain standards. Medical grade silicones are specially designed, produced and purified, so that to meet the highest requirements of the medical industry. The detailed toxicity data and information about “Medical Grade Silicones” and “Silicones for Healthcare Application” will be given in the next parts of this cycle.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Congratulations on quoting the summary and skipping over

In conclusion, considering the safety of the direct application or contact by humans with siloxanes, the polycondensation reaction is preferred, due to lower contamination with low molecular weight siloxanes of cyclic structure. The literature indicates that they exhibit toxic effects, for example: cancerogenicity, modifications in proteins conformation, influence on the immune system, genotoxicity, skin irritations, intraocular pressure increase and teratogenicity

Trust the maker of that silicone strap on amazon named qxzijhnnnggqqi qzzcni all you want to produce the kind of silicone or whatever other material.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Neither of the cited articles mentions the toxicity at all though. Also, are you sure your "typical" bands are free of heavy metals?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

You're right, nowhere does it mention toxicity, except the entire article.

And you're right, I am not sure there aren't any heavy metals in my leather and fabric straps.

And you're also correct that the stainless straps that I do have which I bought from a jeweler I am additionally uncertain about their contents aside from the manufacturers certification.

But weren't you talking about silicone?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

No, dude. You don't understand what I said. You just quoted the original article. I'm saying the cited articles in the article are not be claiming toxicity at all. They are claiming presence, but not toxicity. I do not know where this study got off citing those sources when they make no claims as such.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

I am wondering about this, also. I have a regular watch, with a "plastic" band. Why would PFAS be used in these bands? Ridiculous.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 months ago

Problems pointed out by commenters aside, I am under the impression that there is very little oversight about this kind of stuff anymore.

For one thing - unless they've changed recently, Amazon "bins" alike products from multiple suppliers, meaning if a bad actor is introducing counterfeits (or just less stringently tested, for more fungible products) - Amazon doesn't even know who they got them from, by the time that's discovered.

But for another thing, the absolutely incredible volume of products - how on earth is anyone making sure these random-character-generated "brands" are safe?

I lack much in the way of direct evidence, cuz I've got shit to do and this isn't my life's focus - but it seems apparent that there cannot possibly be the kind of consumer safety testing that we want going on. And if that's true, it's only a matter of time before the smart capitalists realize no one is watching and they can make stuff even cheaper (I think they already have), and then how long before we as a society discover all the harm that's done as a result?

I'd love to be wrong about this, but like so many tech innovations, I have a feeling we're going to find out later there were huge harms done before we learned how to rein them in. The speed, volume, and price we've grown used to with Amazon seems to preclude consumer safety.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 months ago

Brands tested:

  • Apple
  • Apple/Nike
  • CASETiFY
  • Fitbit
  • Google
  • KingofKings
  • Modal
  • Samsung
  • Tighesen
  • Vanjua
[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 months ago (2 children)

So don’t eat my watch band. Noted.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 2 months ago (1 children)

"This chemical can be absorbed through your skin, and it's even worse if you're sweating while wearing the band because it can get into your pores"

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

So you're saying the lemmite can eat it?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

ONLY if they aren't sweaty.

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 months ago

You'd be surprised at what your skin just... absorbs

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I'm not surprised at all. My wife and I only use 3rd party metal bands because the factory bands gave us both chemical burns.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago (1 children)

WTF lol

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

I’m sorry this is going to be such a shit comment, but I worked with a guy that had a fitness watch of some stripe.

He was a heavier guy and well, that plasticy band was pressed tight against his skin. One day he came in with this nasty looking ring of red and peeling skin around his wrist. Said he got a rash from the watch. (It’s very possible it was an allergic reaction to something in the band.)

This is a shit comment because I don’t know the brand, and I’m totally saying “trust me, bro.” But like, trust me, bro, it apparently happens?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

No I have seen it happen first hand. To myself and a family member I totally believe it. I had to try several bands to find one that doesn't cause me issues similar to that but not as severe. This is wild it isn't more regulated or something.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

Can confirm. Fitbit Charge 6 band did that to me until I replaced it with this style:

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Yea i know that silicon is a rough material, so I went with a woven cloth band that uses velcro to fasten the strap. Anything is better than that silicon crap.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

What about Garmin?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Same question: super weird to leave them out...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

Probably means no.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

Ok. Don’t eat the watches.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

Source: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00907

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

What about the Pinetime?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

About a decade ago I had a Fitbit and wearing it caused my wrist to break out in a rash. I sent a picture of said wrist to Customer Support and they gave me a full refund on it.

Now, I've not had a watch cause me to break out like that since and I've also never owned any of the other brands on this list... Now you got me wondering.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

A recent study published in the journal "Environmental Science & Technology Letters" has found that many popular smartwatch bands contain high levels of toxic "forever chemicals" known as PFAS. These chemicals are used in many products, from cookware to clothing, because they make things non-stick or water-resistant. The problem is, they don't break down in the environment and can build up in our bodies over time. This can lead to some pretty serious health problems like cancer, immune system issues, and even developmental problems in kids.

"But H20 is a chemical!" /s

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

OH. MY. Oh, I'm not shocked.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

what about zswatch?