“Without end chemical compounds” have been present in fashionable bandages throughout the nation, in line with a examine in partnership with Environmental Well being Information (EHN) and the product watchdog group Mamavation. In a report revealed Wednesday, April 3, the ENH shared that 26 out of 40 bandages despatched for testing got here again with detectable PFAs—accounting for a staggering 65 %.

Mamavation famous that the “bandages [tested] had been bought & donated from group members between November 2022 and February 2024 from both Walmart, CVS, Ceremony Help, Goal, or from Amazon.”

The examine examined natural fluorine ranges as an indicator of PFAS contamination in bandages and ranges detected within the examined bandages ranged from 11 ppm to 328 ppm. Mamavation categorized bandages with natural fluorine ranges exceeding 100 ppm as “not our favourite,” these beneath 100 ppm as “higher bandages,” and people underneath 10 ppm as “finest.”

Notably, ENH reported that “ten out of 16 bandages with black and brown pores and skin tones had indications of PFAS.” This contains bandages from Band-Help, Care Science, Curad, CVS Well being, Equate (Walmart), First Honey, Ceremony Help, Solimo (Amazon), and Up & Up (Goal).

The examine cited the precise bandages that contained PFAs and so they additionally included ones that didn’t present dangerous ranges of natural fluorine or another dangerous substances. Amongst them: Welly Waterproof Bravery Assorted Waterproof Bandages, Trutone Pores and skin Tone Adhesive Bandages Darkish Brown, and Patch Bamboo Bandages for Children with Coconut Oil. (Yow will discover the complete checklist on the Mamavation web site.)

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Per- and polyfluorinated substances—extra colloquially dubbed “PFAS,” or “endlessly chemical compounds”—are a scorching subject throughout industries. Regardless of their intimidating title, greedy what they’re is comparatively easy. Based on the United States Environmental Safety Company, they’re “extensively used, long-lasting chemical compounds, elements of which break down very slowly over time.”

Whereas researchers are nonetheless investigating their potential dangers to each human well being and the surroundings, their presence continues to extend because of their sluggish degradation charge. Some states, together with Minnesota, New York, and California, have taken measures to stop PFA contamination by prohibiting the substance in some merchandise. Nonetheless, the truth is that they’ve already infiltrated most product classes, together with girls’s interval merchandise and cosmetics, corresponding to waterproof mascara, simply to call two.

Without end chemical compounds have been linked to hostile well being outcomes, together with an elevated danger of growing bronchial asthma in kids, the potential for preterm infants amongst anticipating moms, and endocrine disruption, amongst others. Much more disturbing, a report by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention utilizing knowledge from the Nationwide Well being and Vitamin Examination Survey (NHANES), discovered PFAs within the blood of a jarring 97 % of Individuals.

Given this context, it’s clear that PFAs in Band-Aids, or any bandage for that matter, aren’t welcome. “As a result of bandages are positioned upon open wounds, it’s troubling to study that they could be additionally exposing kids and adults to PFAS,” Linda S. Birnbaum, scientist emeritus and former director of the Nationwide Institute of Environmental Well being Sciences and Nationwide Toxicology Program and scholar at residence at Duke College, informed Mamavation.

“It’s apparent from the information that PFAS usually are not wanted for wound care, so it’s necessary that the business take away their presence to guard the general public from PFAS and choose as a substitute for PFAS-free supplies,” Birnbaum added.