- Apple is facing a class-action lawsuit over its Apple Watch bands
- The lawsuit alleges that Apple “hides” the existence of PFAS in its products, claiming this is false advertising
- Apple has hit back, saying its bands are safe to wear
Apple has been hit with a class-action lawsuit alleging that some of the company’s best Apple Watch bands contain dangerous levels of “forever chemicals.”
The suit was filed in California on January 21, on behalf of customers who’ve bought Apple’s Watch Sport Band, Ocean Band for the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and the Nike Sport Band. It states that Apple “advertises these Products as designed to support and further human health and wellness, environmentally sustainable, and suitable for everyday use and wear. However, in truth, they contain excessive levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”), which are toxic to human health and the environment.”
The suit has been filed in the wake of a University of Notre Dame study that found elevated levels of these ‘forever chemicals’ in smartwatch bands.
The study found that “many” bands advertised to contain fluoroelastomers also contained high concentrations of PFAS, with some very high concentrations, particularly in more expensive bands.
Based on the study’s findings, this suit alleges that Apple knows its products contain PFAS, and knows they’re harmful to consumers (the company is phasing them out), but does not inform consumers which products contain the harmful chemicals.
The suit continues: “Instead, in respect of watches, Defendant continues to hide the existence of PFAS at the point of purchase and otherwise. They also affirmatively promise the opposite: that these Products are specifically designed to aid human health and are environmentally friendly. Consumers therefore reasonably would have no way of knowing the products are laced with harmful chemicals and instead believe what Defendant falsely promises.”
The suit also alleges that Apple could have chosen not to use these materials, but elected to put them in the bands to give it an advantage over its competition.
Apple’s response – is your Apple Watch band dangerous?
In response to the suit, Apple told TechRadar: “Apple Watch bands are safe for users to wear. 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.”
Apple also pointed us to its history of removing harmful chemicals from products and manufacturing, and noted that its own restrictions often go beyond the relevant regulations when it comes to protecting human health.
The suit alleges that the aforementioned study found elevated levels of PFAS in bands “including” Apple’s, a claim that is not immediately supported by the study results. As we mentioned in our initial story reporting the study, the public data does not indicate which manufacturers’ bands were found to have high levels of chemicals; they’re not identified by name, but by a sample ID. Tested brands included Apple, CASETiFY, Fitbit, Google, and Samsung.
PFAs and their risk
The presence of PFAS in consumer products is a complicated issue. Research indicates that PFAS are linked to increased risk and incidences of certain types of cancer, and the chemicals are dubbed “forever chemicals” because their structure is so durable that they don’t degrade or break down over time.
However, there are other caveats. There’s only a small body of research on the risk of absorption of PFAS through the skin, with some specialists suggesting that absorbing a significant amount through the skin is unlikely.
Furthermore, the testing in the aforementioned study involved chemically extracting the compounds in the band to confirm levels, which doesn’t replicate the experience of someone wearing a smartwatch.
As for the suit, it’s seeking the usual swathe of relief, injunctions requiring Apple to change its business practices, and monetary compensation for affected users. You can read the lawsuit in full here.
Leave a comment