Apple faces court battle on wearable toxins

A lawsuit filed in California’s Northern District Court has thrust Apple into the spotlight, targeting three of its watch bands for containing potentially harmful “forever chemicals.”

Just a month ago we wrote about the dangers of certain smartwatch and fitness tracker wristbands. It turns out scientists found that many of them contain PFAS, a group of long-lasting chemicals.

Stemming from this, is the legal action which centres on Apple’s Sport, Ocean, and Nike Sport watch bands, alleging the presence of these substances. These synthetic chemicals, notorious for their persistence in both environmental and human systems, have raised significant health concerns.

PFAS don’t simply wash away or decompose. They accumulate in human bodies, creating a potential long-term health risk. Medical research has linked these chemicals to serious conditions. This includes increased cancer risk, immune system weakening, developmental challenges in children, and hormonal disruptions.

Worth noting is that this lawsuit isn’t an isolated incident. Other major tech manufacturers are facing similar scrutiny. Google’s Pixel Watch 3, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Sport, and OnePlus Watch 2 have all been in the firing line. They are all implicated in ongoing investigations about chemical composition.

Apple itself had previously committed to phasing out these chemicals, a promise that makes the current lawsuit particularly noteworthy. The situation echoes a similar legal action against Samsung in 2024, suggesting a broader industry-wide challenge.


Our takeaway

PFAS are everywhere – not just in smartwatch bands. These sneaky toxins are hanging out in tons of stuff we use daily. Got a non-stick pan? Water-resistant jacket? Memory foam mattress? Chances are, they’re loaded with these clingy chemicals. This lawsuit against Apple is, in essence, part of a much bigger conversation about what’s really in the products we live with.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Tech companies are feeling the heat. Manufacturers are getting called out to clean up their act and stop prioritizing cool features over our health. It’s like they’re being told: “Hey, we love your awesome tech, but can you make sure it’s not slowly poisoning us?”

Right now, consumers are stuck in this weird middle ground. We want our cool gadgets and comfy clothes, but we’re also getting more suspicious about what’s actually touching our skin 24/7. The whole situation is making us ask some pretty uncomfortable questions about the everyday tech we’ve been trusting without a second thought.

via The Register

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Ivan Jovin

Ivan has been a tech journalist for over 7 years now, covering all kinds of technology issues. He is the guy who gets to dive deep into the latest wearable tech news.

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