Apple sued over use of dangerous chemical substances in Apple Watch bands

The Apple Watch Sport Band is a kind of allegedly containing dangerous chemical substances – picture credit score: Apple

A category-action lawsuit has been filed towards Apple over using fluoroelastomer in a number of Apple Watch bands, alleging that the corporate is overlaying up using harmful chemical substances.

Way back to 2015, when Apple filed a patent for Apple Watch bands, Apple has been conscious of well being issues concerning the fluoroelastomer materials it makes use of in some bands, such because the common Sport Band. On the time, it was claimed that the actual formulation of fluoroelastomer used had been completely examined to forestall rashes and different pores and skin reactions.

Ten years later, the corporate is being sued for utilizing this materials and accused of selling a well being system that’s dangerous to well being. The go well with targets Apple’s Sport Band, which comes normal with the Apple Watch, plus the Ocean Band and the Nike Sport Band.

The category-action lawsuit filed within the Northern District of California alleges that Apple is conscious of the issues with these bands. Apple is alleged to have solely made a “supposed and largely veiled promise” to cease promoting these bands.

This cost of a hidden promise refers to a November 2022 Apple’s report saying it has dedicated to ending using so-called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). In accordance with the Environmental Safety Company (EPA), these PFASs are generally known as “ceaselessly chemical substances.” says it is manufactured chemical substances which have been utilized in shopper merchandise because the Forties.

Whereas the EPA says analysis continues to be ongoing, it notes that “publicity to sure PFASs might trigger antagonistic well being results.” The brand new lawsuit goes additional and claims that publicity has been “linked to quite a lot of severe public well being issues, together with prostate and kidney most cancers, [and] being pregnant issues.”

It additionally claims that Apple has made “false guarantees” concerning the Apple Watch, persuading customers to purchase for well being causes, however not mentioning these potential issues. The lawsuit additional states that “the presence of extreme PFAS within the merchandise was and is avoidable,” as a result of various supplies can be found.

Consequently, the lawsuit seeks a trial by jury with the purpose of forcing Apple to stop and desist from promoting the fluoroelastomer bands. It is usually looking for unspecified damages for all affected customers, claiming that Apple has been “unjustly enriched” by gross sales of the bands.

Apple’s place

Apple has in a roundabout way responded to this explicit go well with. Along with the 2022 doc on chemical elimination, nonetheless, it does level to well being issues related to sure bands. support pages.

“Quite a lot of care and analysis goes into selecting the supplies for all of our gadgets,” says Apple. It says it’s going to transcend present rules and extensively take a look at supplies with “hundreds of fabric composition checks,” along with pattern testing, toxicology evaluations and consultations with “board-certified dermatologists.”

He nonetheless acknowledges that “a small variety of individuals expertise reactions to sure supplies.” As a part of this, Apple lists the supplies utilized in its merchandise, though fluoroelastomer isn’t particularly talked about within the part on bands, together with the Sport Band.

Nonetheless, it seems that Apple is right that solely a small variety of individuals are affected. There are only some customers asking about pores and skin irritation on Apple’s help boards in 2021.

Individually, pores and skin circumstances equivalent to tattoos have been reported to forestall the Apple Watch’s well being options from working correctly.

You may also like...