Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Tl; Dr.
- A lawsuit has been filed against Apple after a study found high concentrations of toxic “chemicals” in its watch bands.
- The suit targets Apple Watch’s Sport, Ocean, and Nike sports bands.
- These chemicals can build up in our bodies over time and have been linked to a variety of health problems.
- Apple has refuted the claims, saying Apple Watch bands are safe for users.
Updated: January 24, 2025 (12:58 p.m. ET): Apple contacted Android Authority with an official statement regarding the matter and the materials used in the Apple Watch bands. Here’s what the company had to say.
Apple Watch bands are safe for users. 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. »
In 2022, Apple released a white paper detailing its plan to eliminate chemicals forever from its products. At the time, the company admitted that many of its products contained PFAs and that it would take time to completely phase them out.
“It will take time for Apple to completely eliminate PFAs from our products and processes due to the challenges of compiling a comprehensive catalog of PFA use, identifying and developing non-PFAS alternatives that can address performance needs for certain critical applications, and Taking into account the time required for hardware qualification”, Apple written in the newspaper.
The same year, Apple too published a toxicological evaluation report For materials used in Apple products, including the Apple Watch. You can read the extensive report here, in which Apple notes how it conducts internal testing and qualification of materials used in its smartwatches.
Here is An official list Of all the materials that Apple uses in all of its watches and watch bands.
Original article: January 23, 2025 (3:32 AM ET): A recent study found that smartwatch bands from popular brands, including Apple, contain high concentrations of toxic “forever chemicals.” Now, a lawsuit has been filed against Apple regarding these watch bands.
A lawsuit was filed in the Northern District Court of California (spotted by The register) and targets three Apple Watch fluoroelastomer bands said to contain “forever chemicals.” These bands are the sports band included with The Smartwatch, The Ocean Band, and the Nike Sport Band that ships with Apple Watch Nike devices.
So what are “forever chemicals,” then? These are also known as PFAS chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and are synthetic chemicals that do not break down easily over time. Instead, they build up in our bodies and have been linked to increased risk of specific cancers, weakened immune systems, developmental delays in children, and hormonal disruption. In addition to fluoroelastomer watch bands, these toxic chemicals have also been found in non-stick cookware, mattresses, water-resistant clothing, and more.
Do you worry about “forever chemicals” in your portable devices?
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Apple isn’t the only Smartwatch brand to offer bands with Forever Chemicals, however. Other offending straps include the Pixel Watch 3’s default watch strap, the Galaxy Watch Sport Buckle band, and the OnePlus Watch 2’s Fluoro-Rubber strap. You can check out our more comprehensive list of watch bands with Forever Chemicals .
This file nevertheless arrives a few years after Apple first promised Eliminate these toxic chemicals of its products. It also comes after a separate suit was filed against Samsung late last year over its own use of Chemicals Forever in certain surveillance straps. Regardless, we hope that all portable manufacturers will act quickly to ditch these chemicals in its products.
