Bandages have harmful 'forever chemicals', says study

According to the study, the toxic chemicals are present in the adhesive part of bandages. Photo: Wikipedia

A new study has revealed that bandages, which are used to cover wounds, contain toxic amounts of per- and polyfluorinated substances or PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals.

The study was conducted by Mamavation and Environment and Health News, an environment wellness blog, on 40 different bandages from 18 brands. It found detectable levels of the forever chemicals in 26 of them, including in prominent brands such as Band-Aid and Curad.

These chemicals are linked to several health effects including “reduced immune system, vaccine response, learning difficulties for children, lowered fertility, and certain types of cancer”, the report said. The study also said that drinking water or eating food contaminated with PFAS could be dangerous as they can easily enter humans’ bloodstream.

The test was conducted by a US Environment Protection Agency-certified lab and it found organic fluorine ranging from 11 parts per million (ppm) t0 328 ppm, the report said.

These adhesive flaps were sold in prominent stores such as CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Target and Amazon.

“Because bandages are placed upon open wounds, it's troubling to learn that they may be also exposing children and adults to PFAS,” Linda S. Birnbaum, scientist emeritus and former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program and scholar at residence at Duke University, told Mamavation of the new findings.

“It's obvious from the data that PFAS are not needed for wound care, so it's important that the industry remove their presence to protect the public from PFAS and opt instead for PFAS-free materials," she added.

According to the study, the toxic chemicals are present in the adhesive part of the bandages.

Why are they called forever chemicals?

PFAS have carbon-fluorine bonds combine to form an extremely strong molecule, which can stay in the environment for years or decades. They have been used since the 1940s in industries for manufacturing purposes and are still used in cookware, electronics, food manufacturing, furniture, among others.