
Your Smartwatch Could Carry a Hidden Health Risk
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Smartwatch bands have been found to contain high levels of a potentially harmful chemical that researchers believe can be absorbed through the skin, raising the question of whether the popular accessory could pose a hidden public health risk.
A University of Notre Dame study published the American Chemical Society at the end of 2024, found the wearable tech contained significant amounts of "forever chemicals," per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—specifically perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA).
The author of the study, Graham Peaslee, a professor of physics at the University of Notre Dame, Indiana, told Newsweek that "we found that it was almost entirely PFHxA leaching out of the wristbands."
"I believe the plastics industry has been using this particular PFAS in consumer products, which helps explain why it is so prevalent in the samples from this study," he added.
Peaslee also indicated that a significant proportion of these chemicals in wristbands could pass through human skin under normal conditions.
While traditional watch bands are made from a wide range of materials, from stainless steel to leather, smartwatch bands are typically made from more synthetic materials.
Smartwatch bands have been found to contain high levels of a potentially harmful chemical, raising the question of whether the popular accessory could pose a hidden public health risk.
Smartwatch bands have been found to contain high levels of a potentially harmful chemical, raising the question of whether the popular accessory could pose a hidden public health risk.
Photo-illustration by Newsweek/Getty/Canva
What Is PFHxA?
PFHxA, one of the thousands of compounds belonging to the PFAS family, is used widely in consumer products as well as for paper food packaging and carpets, but can be harmful to humans.
It has been found to have an impact on thyroid and liver function and, given it is part of the PFAS family, is by default associated with certain cancers as PFAS chemicals are classed a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). There is, as yet, limited research directly connecting PFHxA to cancers.
Despite it's possible health impacts, it is not one of the PFAS molecules currently regulated by the EPA.
"Like most PFAS, the potential public health effects are still under investigation, but PFHxA is likely among the PFAS species that can accumulate in biological and environmental systems, including the human body," Christy Haynes, a professor of chemistry at the University of Minnesota, told Newsweek.
Compared with other PFAS chemicals, it is thought to have a smaller impact on the human body, because it is a shorter-chain chemical that was initially planned to be used as a replacement for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Jennifer Freeman, a professor of toxicology at Purdue University, Indiana, told Newsweek.
"Shorter chain PFAS usually have less concern for bioaccumulation in the body compared to their longer chain counterparts," she said.
Research is still ongoing, however, and studies have indicated PFHxA may cause similar adverse health effects to other PFAS chemicals, Freeman added.
PFHxA "has been largely unstudied because it only shows up in whole blood samples for humans" unlike other PFAS chemicals, which "show up in blood sera samples," Peaslee told Newsweek. This is because it "is much harder to measure whole blood," he said.
But, as a result of its "hazardous properties," the European Commission is looking to restrict the use of the chemical because of the risk to health it poses, requiring certain industries to scale back their use of PFHxA over the next five years.
In the U.S. only Michigan has a maximum contaminant level for PFHxA, specific to drinking water contamination, while several other states "have advisory or notification levels, or cleanup levels in groundwater, soil or fish tissue," Phil Brown, the director of the Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute at Northeastern University, told Newsweek.
"We should be concerned because this is a common replacement for PFOA which has many documented health effects," Brown said. "The general scientific consensus is that PFAS chemicals share many types of biological activity and many similar health effects."
What Smartwatch Producers Have Said
Smartwatches are a widely worn accessory in the U.S.—with around one in five Americans wearing either a smartwatch or wearable fitness tracker, according to a Pew Research survey from 2020.
Some of the major producers of smartwatches include Apple, Samsung and Google.
In light of the University of Notre Dame study published last year, a Google spokesperson told Newsweek: "Pixel Watch bands meet industry standards with regard to PFAS."
The spokesperson added that Google "proactively restricts" the chemicals in its products and is "committed to minimizing PFAS beyond what is required by law." Google imposes limits on a long list of different chemicals, PFHxA being one of them.
"We are proactively developing long-term alternatives to eliminate PFAS where possible," the spokesperson added.
Apple and Samsung have previously faced lawsuits concerned with this issue. A lawsuit was raised in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California in January against Apple, with the claimant stating Apple "misleadingly and materially omits, on all relevant marketing and advertising, that the products contain toxic PFAS."
"Instead, [Apple] falsely and misleadingly markets and advertises its products" as "the ultimate device for a healthy life," the lawsuit added.
At the end of 2024, a lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in the Central District of California against Samsung, with claimants, represented by the same law firm, making similar accusations—that Samsung had "misleadingly" not disclosed that its products contained PFAS, despite its advertising its product would help consumers "start your wellness journey."
Both lawsuits point to the study released by the University of Notre Dame as proof the products "are toxic to consumers due to the presence of PFAS," adding that the "public was reasonably outraged, as widely reported in the press, when it was revealed that Defendant's products instead contain toxic PFAS chemicals that harm humans and the environment, and at excessive levels."
A Samsung spokesperson told Newsweek: "Customer safety and satisfaction are our top priorities. We remain committed to using safe and sustainable materials, while maintaining high-quality products."
Meanwhile, all materials used in Apple products, including materials with prolonged skin contact, must comply with the Apple Regulated Substances Specification—an additional specification created by the tech company that restricts certain hazardous substances in wearable devices, where consumer exposure is higher.
The company adheres to this specification when "regulatory limits are in general not available or may not be sufficiently protective for prolonged skin contact."
"Apple Watch bands are safe for users to wear," an Apple spokesperson told Newsweek. "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," they said.
Newsweek also contacted Huawei, another global producer of smartwatches, via email for comment.
A file photo shows various models of the Apple Watch Series 10 on display at the Apple Store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
A file photo shows various models of the Apple Watch Series 10 on display at the Apple Store on 5th Avenue in Manhattan.
Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP
Are Experts Concerned?
Although there are concerns over whether PFHxA can be absorbed through the skin there is currently limited research to determine whether this is the case, and, if so, how much of the chemical can be absorbed via this route.
"The skin provides a great barrier for chemical absorption but is also recognized as one of the major routes of absorption," Freeman said. "Some chemicals, depending on their chemical properties, can permeate the skin with the potential to enter the bloodstream and be distributed throughout the body."
"There are a small number of studies suggesting uptake of PFAS through skin is possible and the concentrations of PFHxA reported in the study are quite high," Christina Remucal, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told Newsweek.
"It's also important to take into account that when people wear a watch, it's for most of their waking hours, so that is a lot of exposure," Brown said, advising consumers to opt for silicone-based bands instead.
However, Remucal added that "there is still a lot we don't know about uptake through skin compared to other pathways like drinking contaminated water."
Additionally, the way these samples were extracted "may not translate directly into human exposure," she said.
"More work needs to be done to better understand how PFAS in watch bands ultimately end up in our bodies," she said. "This study suggests looking at this potential pathway is important."
While data is "insufficient to conclude if wearing a smartwatch band containing PFHxA will be a significant concern as a PFHxA exposure source," Freeman recommended consumers err on the side of caution, and consider using a PFAS-free or silicone band in the meantime.
While caution and alternatives are advised, Haynes also told Newsweek there was no need for consumers to panic about the study.
"I am not worried about PFHxA exposure from the wristband of a smartwatch," she said.
She said that the chemical was likely incorporated "within a polymerized matrix and, thus, quite unlikely to leach from the band unless it is severely degraded by harsh conditions."
While there is some evidence that liberated PFHxA can be absorbed through skin, she said, "ingestion and inhalation of PFHxA are more significant routes for exposure and accumulation."
"If I had this smartwatch and the wristband was damaged, I would replace it, but I wouldn't think about it much beyond that," Haynes said.
That said, "In a world where I think we should only use PFAS in critical applications where there aren't other options, such as medical devices, I think companies should be working on an alternate formulation for the wristband," she added.
Reference
Alyssa Wicks, Heather D. Whitehead, Graham F. Peaslee (2024) Presence of Perfluorohexanoic Acid in Fluoroelastomer Watch Bands, American Chemical Society Environmental Science & Technology Letters Vol 12/Issue 1. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.estlett.4c00907
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
How a Viral Image Is Fueling the Fight over Reports of Starvation in Gaza
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Photographs of a young Palestinian child appearing to suffer from severe malnutrition have emerged over the past week as a new symbol of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, where the war between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas movement is grinding on amid repeated failed ceasefire initiatives. But the images have also set off a firestorm of controversy, with a number of sources arguing that one-and-a-half-year-old —photographed being cradled by his mother, Hidaya—also suffered from underlying conditions contributing to his emaciated state, and that his "non-emaciated" brother was cropped out of the photos. While few deny that Palestinians in Gaza are faced with dire and deteriorating living conditions, the debate is playing out as Israeli officials and supporters of Israel's war aims contend that reports of mass hunger in the besieged territory are exaggerated and deliberately engineered to fit a narrative backed by Hamas. Hidaya, a 31-year-old Palestinian mother, carries her sick 18-month-old son Mohammed al-Matouq, who is also displaying signs of malnutrition, inside their tent at the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 24, 2025. Hidaya, a 31-year-old Palestinian mother, carries her sick 18-month-old son Mohammed al-Matouq, who is also displaying signs of malnutrition, inside their tent at the Al-Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City, on July 24, 2025. OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP/Getty Images "There is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza, and I assure you that we have a commitment to achieve our war goals," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Sunday. But as the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations argue otherwise, one of the Israeli premier's closest allies, President Donald Trump also cast doubt on Netanyahu's claim when asked by a reporter if he agreed with it. "I don't know. I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry," Trump said Monday, adding that there is "real starvation in Gaza" and "you can't fake that." A New Flashpoint Photographs of the young Matouq first appeared in a July 23 front-page article by the Daily Express, a right-leaning British tabloid. They were quickly featured on a number of international outlets, including BBC, CNN, The Guardian, NBC News, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Photographs of Mohammed al-Matouq were printed on the front pages of newspapers around the world. Photographs of Mohammed al-Matouq were printed on the front pages of newspapers around the world. NEW YORK TIMES, DAILY EXPRESS Most coverage included Matouq's image to reinforce reporting about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, with many including additional visuals and sources, such as local and international aid workers. Yet the majority of the articles did not reference that Matouq also suffered from other ailments, as alleged by investigative journalist Michael Collier, who is supportive of Israel's war efforts. In a series of X posts, Collier accused mainstream media outlets on Sunday of manipulating Matouq's plight without highlighting that he had cerebral palsy, hypoxia and a "serious genetic disorder," citing what he said was a May 2025 medical report issued in Gaza. "You exploited the image of a child with cerebral palsy to push a lie about famine," Collier wrote in a follow-up post Monday directed toward several major outlets who featured Matouq's image. "You did this because you are all running campaigns to demonise Israel. You did not care anything about the truth. You saw an image you could use - or abuse - and ran with it." "In doing so, you ignored the real story: Mohammed is medically vulnerable," Collier added. "He needs specialised formula and medication." Collier's reporting was backed up by the pro-Israel monitor Honest Reporting, which further accused major news outlets of failing to reveal Matouq's reported preexisting diseases. "Every outlet that promoted this false narrative must update their coverage to reflect the full truth: Muhammad has a medical condition," the organization wrote Sunday. "He is not simply a victim of starvation, and the image has been presented in a misleading and incomplete way." Getty Images, which hosts several photos of Matouq and his mother taken by a photographer from the Turkish news agency Anadolu, described the child as "sick" and "also displaying signs of malnutrition" in accompanying captions. A Newsweek search of Getty's database found numerous photos of other Palestinians, both children and adults, also displaying signs of malnutrition in recent imagery taken from Gaza. Newsweek has reached out to Collier, the Israeli Consulate General in New York, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the U.N. World Food Program for comment on this story. People walk with sacks of flour delivered after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza on July 27, 2025, coming from the Zikim border crossing. People walk with sacks of flour delivered after trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered northern Gaza on July 27, 2025, coming from the Zikim border crossing. BASHAR TALEB/AFP/Getty Images 'Starvation Is Widespread' Many international humanitarian organizations, including U.N. agencies, have accused Israel of blocking a sufficient amount of aid from reaching Gaza, exacerbating desperate conditions for the territory's approximately two million people. The Gaza-based Palestinian Health Ministry, which is overseen by the territory's Hamas-led government, reported Saturday that five more people had died of starvation, bringing the total number of deaths due to hunger in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, to 127, including 85 children. Israel announced in March it would block the flow of aid into Gaza, arguing that such shipments were being diverted by Hamas for the group's benefit. Israel later authorized one organization, the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, to operate in select distribution points. The U.N. has rejected offers to coordinate with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, arguing that the group's system put Palestinian lives at risk amid repeated reports of violence emerging at aid distribution sites. Israel has accused the U.N. of failing to facilitate the entry of aid convoys into Gaza due to its lack of cooperation. Amid growing international pressure, Israel announced last week that it would begin to allow Arab countries such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates to resume airdropping aid packages into Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) then announced Sunday that its forces would begin a daily "tactical pause" for humanitarian purposes in three areas: Gaza City, Deir al-Balah and Musawi. The announcement was welcomed by U.N. agencies, including the World Food Program, which noted in its statement Sunday that "some 470,000 people are enduring famine-like conditions" and "people are dying due to a lack of humanitarian assistance." Tess Ingram, Middle East and North Africa spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), argued the situation remained critical. "The evidence from the Gaza Strip is clear – malnutrition is rising, fast, due to the lack of food, safe water and nutrition treatments," Ingram told Newsweek. "Starvation is widespread and it is killing people, especially children." She testified that colleagues in Gaza had spoken with mothers "who are watching their babies waste away in front of them, and medics who are despairing about their inability to save them." She said UNICEF has also conducted interviews with children "who were injured in the desperate search for food, or watched a parent be killed in front of them while trying to get a little bit of aid." "This crisis is manmade and entirely preventable," Ingram said. "Aid of all types must be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip at scale, immediately. UN agencies, including UNICEF, and our humanitarian partners must be able to safely collect that aid from crossings and distribute it to families in need, wherever they are." An Israeli soldier stands guard next to humanitarian aid at the Kerem Shalom crossing between southern Israel and the Gaza Strip on July 27, 2025. An Israeli soldier stands guard next to humanitarian aid at the Kerem Shalom crossing between southern Israel and the Gaza Strip on July 27, 2025. CARLOS REYES/AFP/Getty Images Information Warfare As charged narratives continue to swirl over the war in Gaza, the constant stream of visuals emerging from the conflict continue to prove influential in shaping the perceptions of observers, including officials. Trump's recent reference to televised footage as the basis for his skepticism over Netanyahu's claim that starvation was non-existent in Gaza was not the first time the president has cited media coverage in his comments on the conflict. In a March 2024 interview with the Israel Hayom newspaper, Trump asserted that "Israel made a very big mistake" in releasing footage of its offensive in Gaza. "These photos and shots—I mean, moving shots of bombs being dropped into buildings in Gaza—and I said, 'Oh, that's a terrible portrait,'" Trump said at the time. "It's a very bad picture for the world. The world is seeing this." W.J.T. Mitchell, a noted media theorist and professor at the University of Chicago, argued that the role of "visual images is crucial" in the information war currently raging against the backdrop of the conflict between Israel and Hamas. "They have an immediate impact on the viewer, and make it much harder to deny what is going on," as does "the testimony of objective observers and humanitarian workers (who are also suffering—and fainting while they work—from malnutrition)," Mitchell told Newsweek. Mitchell also said it was important to distinguish between "misinformation, which is simply incorrect or doubtful," and "disinformation, which is the deliberate attempt to mislead and deceive." "It is the essential feature of propaganda," he added. "And then there is 'gaslighting,' which is the systematic attempt to confuse viewers and sow distrust in media. This strategy is effective in making people doubt what they see, or — even worse — refuse to look at the evidence because it is upsetting."


Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Judge Blocks Medicaid Cuts To Planned Parenthood
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A federal judge on Monday ruled that the Trump administration must reimburse Planned Parenthood clinics across the country for Medicaid-funded services. The new order from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani replaces a previous one that was handed down last week. "Patients are likely to suffer adverse health consequences where care is disrupted or unavailable," Talwani wrote in her Monday order. "In particular, restricting Members' ability to provide healthcare services threatens an increase in unintended pregnancies and attendant complications because of reduced access to effective contraceptives, and an increase in undiagnosed and untreated STIs." A provision in President Donald Trump's tax bill instructed the federal government to end Medicaid payments for one year to abortion providers that received more than $800,000 from Medicaid in 2023, even to those like Planned Parenthood that also offer medical services like contraception, pregnancy tests and STD testing. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow. The Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
COMPASSUS NAMED TO NEWSWEEK'S AMERICA'S GREATEST WORKPLACES 2025
Award recognizes Compassus' impact and commitment to be the employer of choice in home-based health care BRENTWOOD, Tenn., July 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Compassus, a leading national provider of integrated home-based health care services, announced today that it is recognized as one of America's Greatest Workplaces 2025 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group recognized companies through a comprehensive assessment involving employee interviews, company reviews, publicly accessible data and an analysis of over 120 key performance indicators. Since its founding in 2006, Compassus has expanded its services to include home health, infusion therapy, palliative and hospice care. The company's more than 8,000 team members deliver care across more than 280 programs and 32 states. Compassus is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment for personal and professional growth. This commitment is reflected in its recent workforce achievements, including a 43% reduction in the nurse turnover rate compared to one year ago. The company invested in its employee medical plan benefits for 2025 by lowering employee premiums by an average of 8% and lowering employee out of pocket costs. The developments testify to Compassus' focus on employee satisfaction, support and retention. "Being named one of America's Greatest Workplaces marks a milestone in our purposeful effort to support our people," said Compassus CEO Mike Asselta. "We know we can only complete our mission to deliver the highest quality care for patients and families with engaged, supported caregivers who feel they belong here. I'm especially proud of how our nurses, therapists, and care team members are choosing to make careers in home-based health care." "Companies that emphasize building a strong workplace environment see higher levels of employee engagement. And with higher employee engagement comes a range of benefits," explains Jennifer H. Cunningham, Newsweek's editor-in-chief. "That's why Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group are partnering for the third-annual ranking of America's Greatest Workplaces, recognizing the companies where employee engagement comes naturally." For more information about Compassus or its services, visit About Compassus Compassus provides a continuum of integrated home-based care services, including home health, home infusion, palliative and hospice care. More than 8,000 teammates and more than 280 access points nationwide provide high-quality care and manage patients' advanced illnesses in partnership with health systems and long-term care partners. The Compassus Care for who I am culture reflects its unique care delivery model, which focuses on each person as an individual as well as a patient, to improve their quality of life in a meaningful way. Media Contact: Ashton Jones 615.660.0218 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Compassus