Apple sued for using dangerous 'forever chemicals' in Watch bands

By Brandon Vigliarolo | The Register | January 27, 2025

Read the full article by Brandon Vigliarolo (The Register)

"Apple has been sued for allegedly selling wristbands for its smartwatches that contain high levels of "forever chemicals" known as PFAS that may be linked to harmful health effects in humans.

The lawsuit [PDF], filed yesterday in the Northern District of California, specifically targets three Apple Watch bands: The Sport Band that comes stock with new basic model Apple Watches, the Ocean Band, and the Nike Sport Band that ships with Nike-branded Apple Watches. Apple describes all three as being made from fluoroelastomer, which the lawsuit alleges conceals the presence of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

For those unfamiliar with PFAS chemicals, they are widely used in consumer products such as clothing, cleaners, nonstick cookware, and hygiene products, and are valued for being both inexpensive and highly effective."