Alarming news: A new study finds that some brands of fitness trackers and smartwatch bands contain “very high concentrations” of a man-made chemical that could harm our health.
University of Notre Dame researchers tested 22 wristbands of various price points—many of which were made with fluoroelastomers, synthetic rubbers designed to repel sweat, skin oils and water.
Nine of the bands had high levels of perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), a type of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These compounds are known as “forever chemicals” — and they’ve been linked to a host of health problems, including an increased risk of certain types of cancer.
“The most remarkable thing we found in this study was the very high concentrations of just one PFAS—some samples had over 1,000 parts per billion of PFHxA, which is much higher than most PFAS we’ve seen in consumer products,” said Graham Peaslee. , co-author of the study and professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
PFAS have been detected in fast food containers, non-stick cookware, stain- and water-resistant fabrics, shampoos, cosmetics, paints and adhesives, among other products.
Smart watches and fitness trackers are very popular wearable technology. In a 2019 study, 21% of American adults reported that they often wore one.
Peaslee said this is the first study to address PFAS in fitness trackers and smartwatch bands.
They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment, remaining in soil and groundwater for long periods. A study conducted this week found they are widespread in public water systems.
PFAS have been linked to health issues such as reduced immune function, elevated cholesterol, thyroid dysfunction, liver damage, developmental delays in children, and an increased risk of certain types of cancer, especially kidney and testicular cancer.
“Few studies have so far been published about skin absorption of PFAS,” said Alyssa Wicks, a graduate student in Peaslee’s lab and lead author of the study.
“A published article [in 2024] by a European research group found that some types of PFAS had significant transfer through the skin,” Wicks continued. “That initial study examined only about 20 of the 14,000 known types of PFAS, and more studies are needed to better understand how PFAS passes through the skin.”
In Wicks’ study, high levels of PFHxA were found in watch bands costing over $15.
Exposure to high doses of PFHxA can damage the liver, thyroid, red blood cell count, and the developing fetus.
Three of the groups included in the analysis were considered expensive because they cost over $30—all three contained significant amounts of fluoride.
Elevated fluoride levels are a strong indicator of PFAS contamination, the researchers said, because all PFAS molecules contain fluorine atoms.
“Fifteen of the 22 bands we tested had a high percentage of total fluoride concentrations and nine contained PFHxA,” Wicks said. “Others used another unidentified surfactant that was not in our target assay.”
The findings were recently published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
Peaslee said the results call for a more comprehensive study on PFAS in watch bands.
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