The Apple Watch Sport Band is among those said to contain harmful chemicals — image credit: Apple
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Apple over the use of fluoroelastomer in several Apple Watch bands, saying the company is hiding how it is using dangerous chemicals.
As long ago as 2015, when it filed a patent regarding Apple Watch bands, Apple has been aware of health concerns over the fluoroelastomer material it uses in some bands such as the basic Sport Band. At the time, it was claimed that the particular fluoroelastomer recipe used had been strenuously tested to prevent rashes and other skin reactions.
Ten years later, the company is being sued for the use of this material, and accused of promoting a health device that is unhealthy. The suit targets Apple’s Sport Band — which comes as standard with an Apple Watch — plus the Ocean Band, and the Nike Sport Band.
The class action suit, filed in the Northern District of California, claims that Apple is aware of the issues in these bands. Allegedly, Apple has only made a “supposed and largely hidden promise” to stop selling these bands.
That accusation of a hidden promise refers to a November 2022 report by Apple saying that it was committed to stop using what are called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). According to the These PFAS are commonly called “forever chemicals,” which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says are manufactured chemicals that have been been used in consumer products since the 1940s.
While the EPA says that research is still ongoing, it does note that “exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes.” The new lawsuit goes further and claims that exposure has been “linked to various serious public health problems, including prostate and kidney cancer, [and] pregnancy complications.”
It also claims that Apple has been making “false promises” about the Apple Watch, persuading users to buy for health reasons while not mentioning these potential issues.The suit further says that the “presence of excessive PFAS in the Products was and is avoidable,” as alternative materials are available.
Consequently, the suit asks for a trial by jury, with the aim that Apple be forced to cease and desist sales of bands with fluoroelastomer. It also asks for unspecified damages for all affected users, arguing that Apple has been “unjustly enriched” by sales of the bands.
Apple’s position
Apple has not directly responded to this specific suit. As well as its 2022 paper on removing the chemicals, though, it does refer to health issues with certain bands on its support pages.
“A great deal of care and research goes into choosing materials for all of our devices,” says Apple. It claims to go beyond existing regulations and to extensively test materials, with “thousands of material composition tests,” plus trial studies, toxicological assessments, and consultations “with board-certified dermatologists.”
It does still admit that “a small number of people will experience reactions to certain materials.” As part of that, Apple lists materials used in its products, although the section about bands including the Sport Band, does not specifically mention fluoroelastomer.
Apple does appear to be right about only a small number of people being affected, though. Apple’s support forums only contain a couple of users asking about skin irritation, back in 2021.
Separately, skin conditions such as tattoos have been reported to stop Apple Watch’s health features working correctly.
