Apple Watch Lawsuit Alleges Certain Wristbands Contain Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals’

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that certain Apple Watch wristbands contain excessive levels of toxic “forever chemicals.”

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The 64-page Apple lawsuit claims that in a bid to appeal to health- and eco-conscious consumers, the tech giant has ubiquitously marketed its Apple Watch Sport Band, Ocean Band and Nike Sport Band as environmentally sustainable and designed to support health and wellness. According to the suit, despite Apple’s representations that the wristbands are the “ultimate device for a healthy life” and “[p]eace of mind on your wrist,” the products have been found to contain unsafe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of synthetic chemicals that are toxic to human health and the environment.

Per the case, PFAS have been linked to serious medical concerns, including various cancers, pregnancy complications, thyroid disorders and liver damage, and they are considered “uniquely harmful to the environment” because they are resistant to degradation.

The complaint contends that Apple has misled consumers and promised benefits the products do not deliver, all while encouraging consumers to wear the “unreasonably hazardous watches” day and night.

“The harm is especially pronounced here given that, when the Product is used as intended and directed, the toxic chemicals remain in contact with the skin daily and all day long, including the underside of the wrist where the body’s absorption rate of the toxic chemicals is heightened,” the filing says. “Worse, perspiration experienced during regular use of the Products for health purposes further exacerbates the dangerous rate of absorption.”

The suit argues that consumers reasonably expect the Apple Watch wristbands to be safe to wear for long periods and have no way of knowing the products are, in fact, “laced” with dangerous chemicals. Customers would not have purchased the wristbands had they known they contained excessive levels of PFAS, the complaint asserts.

The Apple Watch lawsuit looks to represent anyone in the United States who, during the applicable statute of limitations period, purchased the wristbands listed on this page for purposes other than resale.

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