{"id":12533,"date":"2024-12-18T20:21:23","date_gmt":"2024-12-18T20:21:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=12533"},"modified":"2024-12-18T23:10:11","modified_gmt":"2024-12-18T23:10:11","slug":"notre-dame-researchers-find-pfas-in-fitness-tracker-smartwatch-bands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/notre-dame-researchers-find-pfas-in-fitness-tracker-smartwatch-bands\/","title":{"rendered":"Notre Dame Researchers Find PFAS in Fitness Tracker, Smartwatch Bands"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">Researchers from the University of Notre Dame have discovered high levels of PFAS, or &#8220;forever chemicals,&#8221; in fitness tracker and smartwatch bands. The study points to potential health risks associated with prolonged exposure.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fitness trackers and smartwatch bands, popular accessories for health enthusiasts, are now under scrutiny as researchers from the University of Notre Dame reveal concerning findings about their chemical makeup. The study, <a href=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acs.estlett.4c00907\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Environmental Science &amp; Technology Letters, highlights the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in several bands, sparking health concerns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Out of 22 watch bands tested, nine contained elevated levels of a specific PFAS known as perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA). Significantly, these higher levels were most prevalent in bands that cost more than $15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe most remarkable thing we found in this study was the very high concentrations of just one PFAS \u2014 there were some samples above 1,000 parts per billion of PFHxA, which is much higher than most PFAS we have seen in consumer products,\u201d co-author Graham Peaslee, a professor emeritus in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/news.nd.edu\/news\/researchers-detect-elevated-levels-of-pfas-in-some-fitness-tracker-and-smartwatch-bands\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">PFAS have been integral to consumer products since the 1950s due to their resilience against water, heat and stains. Their persistence in the environment has earned them the nickname \u201cforever chemicals,\u201d as they do not decompose naturally, contaminating soil and water systems indefinitely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Manufacturers often use these chemicals in products designed to be resistant to various elements, including fitness tracker and smartwatch bands, which were tested by Peaslee\u2019s lab through sophisticated analysis techniques like particle-induced gamma-ray emission ion beam analysis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFew studies so far have been published regarding the dermal absorption of PFAS,\u201d added lead author Alyssa Wicks, a graduate student in Peaslee\u2019s lab. \u201cOne article published earlier this year by a European research group found that a couple types of PFAS had significant transfer through the skin. That initial study only examined around 20 of the 14,000 known types of PFAS, and more studies are needed to better understand how PFAS travel through the skin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Given the widespread usage of fitness trackers and smartwatches, this discovery poses a significant concern. According to a 2019 Pew Research study, about 1 in 5 Americans use these devices, often wearing them for an average of 11 hours per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The potential health risks associated with PFAS are substantial, ranging from immunosuppression and hormonal imbalances to developmental issues in children and certain cancers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The findings underscore the need for a more comprehensive study to assess the extent of PFAS exposure from wearable devices. With the study revealing that 15 out of 22 tested bands had high total fluorine concentrations, the call for broader research is more urgent than ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This groundbreaking study sheds light on a new facet of consumer product safety, urging both manufacturers and users to reconsider the materials used in everyday items. The University of Notre Dame team\u2019s work highlights the complex challenges posed by PFAS and the critical need for ongoing research into safer, more sustainable alternatives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fitness trackers and smartwatch bands, popular accessories for health enthusiasts, are now under scrutiny as researchers from the University of Notre Dame reveal concerning findings about their chemical makeup. The study, published in Environmental Science &amp; Technology Letters, highlights the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in several bands, sparking health concerns. Out of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12533","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sustainability"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Fitness trackers and smartwatch bands, popular accessories for health enthusiasts, are now under scrutiny as researchers from the University of Notre Dame reveal concerning findings about their chemical makeup. The study, published in Environmental Science &amp; Technology Letters, highlights the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in several bands, sparking health concerns. Out of&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12533","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12533"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12533\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12577,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12533\/revisions\/12577"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12533"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12533"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12533"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}