Apple sued for selling smartwatch wristbands with “forever chemicals”

A new lawsuit claims that Apple knowingly sold wristbands containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Apple's Watch Sport Band, Ocean Band, and Nike Sport Band contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS, which are know to cause health issues.

However, a class-action lawsuit filed in the northern district of California claims that Apple advertises its products as supporting a healthy lifestyle and thus misleads customers.

PFAS are a group of synthetic chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water in a variety of consumer products.

The same properties that make PFAS excellent at resisting water and stains make them nearly impossible to break down via natural processes in the human body or the environment.

The chemicals also have properties that cause extensive environmental contamination and have been linked to public health problems.

According to the lawsuit, Apple advertises that its smartwatches are designed to support and further human health and wellness, promote environmental sustainability, and are suitable for everyday use and wear.

However, the company doesn’t disclose that its wristbands contain high levels of PFAS, which are toxic to human health and the environment.

The lawsuit points to several studies showing that PFAS can cause a number of health issues, including negative reproductive effects, negative developmental effects in children, increased risk of cancers, and reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections.

Apple is accused of violating the California Consumers Legal Remedies Act, California False Advertising Law, and Unfair Competition Law by either selling products with PFAS, not disclosing the potential negative consequences, and engaging in misleading advertisements.

The company isn’t the only one selling smartwatch wristbands with toxic chemicals. A recent study, in which smartwatch straps from brands Apple, Samsung, Google, Fitbit, and CASETiFY were tested, revealed that many straps that come with wrist-worn devices include perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA).

Apple is the biggest smartwatch seller in the world, with a 21% estimated market share. Over 450 million smartwatches are sold globally every year.