Saturday, 21 September 2024

Bandage Brands Contain Dangerous Levels Of ‘Forever Chemicals’ That Directly Contact Open Wounds, Report Shows

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According to a report shared by Daily Mail, bandages from some of the most commonly used brands contain 'forever chemicals' that can get directly into the blood through open wounds.

“Testing by a leading watchdog found the chemical fluorine in over two dozen different bandages that can be found in millions of medicine cabinets across the country.  Dr Linda Birnbaum, a toxicologist and former head of the National Toxicology Program who co-led the lab testing, said the fact that risky chemicals come in direct contact with open wounds was 'troubling,'” Chief Nerd wrote, citing Daily Mail.

“PFAS chemicals can easily enter the bloodstream after a person drinks water or eats food laced with them. Once in the bloodstream, PFAS can lodge themselves within healthy tissue where it can begin to damage the immune system, the liver, the kidneys, and other organs,” Chief Nerd added.

Daily Mail reports:

Environmental health watchdogs had 40 bandages from 18 different brands tested for fluorine, and detectable levels were found in 26 of them.

Consumer watchdog blog Mamavation and Environmental Health News used an EPA-certified lab to look for PFAS chemicals in the absorbent pads and adhesive flaps of bandages sold at major retailers, including CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Target, and Amazon.

The bandages that contain high levels of fluorine above 100 parts per million include brands Band-Aid, Care Science, Curad, CVS Health, Equate, First Honey, Rite Aid brand, Solimo (Amazon brand), and Up & Up, Target’s brand.

Dr Birnbaum said: ‘Because bandages are placed upon open wounds, it's troubling to learn that they may be also exposing children and adults to PFAS.

‘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.’

PFAS substances contain bonds between carbon and fluorine atoms, creating one very resilient chemical that can remain in the environment for years or even decades.

“Thinx Underwear and other period products were found to contain tens to over 100 parts per million of the compound,” the outlet noted.

From the Washington Examiner:

According to Mamavation, the PFAS bandages are likely used for their waterproof qualities.

PFAS chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been linked to a variety of health concerns related to growth, reproduction, obesity, and different cancers. They are synthetic chemicals that were created as resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water and are used in products such as adhesives, nonstick cookware, and food packaging.

They have obtained the moniker “forever chemicals” because they are highly resistant to degradation and can remain in the human body for years. The chemicals can enter the bloodstream through consumption or direct contact and embed in healthy tissue and start damaging organs.

While the study looked at many brands, those with bandages containing higher levels of fluorine, at above 100 parts per million, included Band-Aid, CVS Health, Equate, Rite Aid, Amazon’s Solimo, Target, Curad, and others.


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