Headphones from major brands found to contain potentially harmful chemicals, study warns

Headphones

• Lab tests found hazardous chemicals in major brand headphones.
• Bisphenols, phthalates found in almost all 81 models tested.
• Experts: Daily headphone use may pose long-term health risks.

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A new laboratory investigation has raised concerns about the presence of potentially hazardous chemicals in headphones sold by major global brands, including Bose, Samsung and Sennheiser. According to a report published by The Guardian, every one of the 81 headphone models tested was found to contain substances linked to known health risks.

The testing was carried out as part of the ToxFREE LIFE for All project, a collaboration between civil society organisations across Central Europe. Researchers analysed a mix of over-ear and in-ear headphones purchased from physical retailers and online marketplaces, examining the plastics and synthetic materials that come into direct contact with the skin.

The results showed widespread use of bisphenols, a group of chemicals commonly added to plastics. Bisphenol A, or BPA, was detected in 98 per cent of the samples, while bisphenol S was found in more than three-quarters. Both substances are classified as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with the body’s hormonal systems.

Beyond bisphenols, laboratory analysis identified phthalates, which have been linked to reproductive toxicity, chlorinated paraffins associated with liver and kidney damage in animal studies, and a range of brominated and organophosphate flame retardants. Many of these chemicals have been associated in scientific literature with increased cancer risk, hormone disruption and neurodevelopmental effects.

Although the concentrations detected were generally low, experts involved in the study warned that prolonged and repeated contact could increase exposure. Headphones are often worn for several hours a day, pressed tightly against the skin, sometimes during exercise when heat and sweat are present. Under those conditions, chemicals can migrate more readily from plastics into the skin.

“Daily use, especially during workouts, creates the ideal conditions for chemical transfer,” a chemical expert involved in the project said. “Heat and moisture accelerate migration directly to the skin.”

The findings reflect a broader shift in how headphones are used. Once an occasional accessory, they are now everyday devices worn at work, during commutes, in the gym and at home. That sustained contact has attracted increased scrutiny from health researchers, particularly because endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA can mimic natural hormones and have been linked to developmental disorders and certain cancers.

Scientists also point to the so-called cocktail effect. While exposure from a single product may be minimal, repeated contact with multiple items containing similar chemicals can add up over time, potentially increasing long-term health risk.

Major audio brands named in the investigation haven't made any comment so far. Health advocates argue that the findings highlight a lack of transparency across the consumer electronics industry, with limited disclosure about the chemical composition of products that are worn directly on the body.

The ToxFREE groups have previously identified bisphenols in baby products and textiles, and are calling for stricter regulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in everyday consumer goods. They argue that clearer labelling and tighter safety standards are needed, particularly to protect children and teenagers who may be more vulnerable to hormonal disruption.