*A recent study reveals the presence of cancer-causing substances in numerous bandage varieties, including popular brands like Band-Aid and Curad.
Mamavation and Environmental Health Sciences investigated bandages from retailers like CVS, Walmart, Rite Aid, Target, and Amazon. They found PFAS chemicals (known as forever chemicals), commonly used in adhesives, absorbent pads, and adhesive flaps, Complex reports.
65% of the tested products, including 63% of bandages tailored for darker skin tones, contained toxic PFAS chemicals.
“Because bandages are placed upon open wounds, it’s troubling to learn that they may be also exposing children and adults to PFAS,” said Linda S. Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program and scholar at residence at Duke University, Care Doctor reports. “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.”
Scott Belcher, associate professor with the Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University, said, “Fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are extremely common forms of PFAS that could be contributing to the organic fluorine found in bandages.
Toxicologist Dr. Linda Birnbaum co-led the lab testing. She noted that these chemicals pose life-threatening risks if they come into contact with open wounds and enter the bloodstream.
“Because bandages are placed upon open wounds, it’s troubling to learn that they may also be exposing children and adults to PFAS,” Birnbaum said. “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.”
Brands containing PFAS include Band-Aid, Care Science, Curad, CVS Health, Equate, First Honey, Rite Aid, Amazon’s Solimo, Up & Up, and Target’s private label.
PFAS are also found in toilet paper, food packaging, kitchen utensils, and furniture.
Once these chemicals enter the bloodstream, they can damage the immune system, liver, kidneys, and other organs.
“It is discouraging to find yet another important product space, band-aids or bandages, containing PFAS compounds where transfers into users are conceivable,” said Green Science at Carnegie Mellon University director Terrence Collins, per Complex.
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