Researchers find toxic chemicals in all tested headphones
A recent study by the ToxFree Life for All-project reveals a disturbing trend: every headphone tested contained hazardous substances, regardless of brand or price. These include known carcinogens and chemicals that cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children. The report also points to the presence of hormone disruptors.
Researchers tested 81 headphones from bricks-and-mortar shops and online stores, finding bisphenol A (BPA) in 98% of the samples. The replacement substance bisphenol S (BPS) also appeared in more than three quarters of cases. These substances are risky because they mimic the action of oestrogen in the body. This leads to serious health problems, ranging from early puberty in girls and feminisation in men to an increased risk of cancer.
The ToxFree project, a partnership of Central European civil society organisations, has called for stricter regulation of hormone-disrupting chemicals in consumer products and for greater transparency from manufacturers about the materials used in their products.
Researchers also found other harmful chemicals, such as phthalates. These well-known reproductive toxins impair fertility. In addition, the samples contained chlorinated paraffins, which cause liver and kidney damage, and flame retardants which, like bisphenols, disrupt the hormonal balance. Although the latter substances are present only in small quantities, their presence remains worrying.
In the study they warned of the significant risk posed by prolonged skin contact with headphones, especially during exercise, when heat and sweat promote the migration of chemicals from the plastic into the body. They stressed that, although individual exposure levels from a single source may be low, the cumulative effect of daily exposure to multiple chemical sources can have serious long-term health consequences.
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