Research reveals the amount of harmful materials in headphones

An investigation has revealed that a part of the headphones that are sold in the European market they are manufactured with materials harmful to healthsuch as bisphenol A (BPA), which interfere with the endocrine system, although more and more manufacturers are prioritizing less toxic materials in the parts that come into contact with the skin.

Headphones, regardless of their format, have become an everyday accessory for both work and leisure, and a wide variety of plastics are used in their manufacture, each with its own additives, which can introduce endocrine disrupting chemicals, linked to fertility problems and obesity.

The analysis of 180 materials in 81 headphone models marketed in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Austria has revealed that all of them contain dangerous substances, such as bisphenols, phthalates and flame retardantsin both rigid and flexible plastic parts.

Bisphenol A is present in 177 of the 180 materials analyzeddespite being one of the most documented endocrine disruptors, while Bisphenol S (BPS), widely used as its substitute, was found in 137 samples.

According to the analysis, the concentration levels found, 351 mg/kg, were much higher than the limit of 10 mg/kg established by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA).

About 60 percent of the samples contained traces of phthalates classified as “carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic”, although in low concentrations. Low levels (45 mg/kg) of short and medium chain chlorinated paraffinswhich are used as flame retardants, plasticizers and industrial lubricants.

They were also detected halogenated, organophosphate flame retardantsconcentrations of triphenylphosphate and resorcinol bis (diphenylphosphate), used as a substitute for triphenylphosphate.

This research, carried out within the framework of the ‘ToxFree LIFE for All’ initiative, indicates that, in general terms, and the detected levels of these materials They are low, and do not present an imminent danger.

Even so, they warn of the risk posed long-term continuous exposureespecially the parts that are in contact with the skin and at times when people sweat, such as physical activity.

They also indicate that manufacturers are prioritizing toxic-free components or with lower concentrations in soft materialssuch as the silicone pads and caps, which are those that are in direct contact with the skin, while the worst evaluations were obtained by the rigid parts that make up the structure of the headphones.

The cables, for their part, are in an intermediate position. According to the analysis, “although very few exceeded legal limitsa notable portion contained moderate levels of chlorinated paraffins and phthalates used as plasticizers for PVC.”

The analysis covers 81 headphone models aimed at children, adolescents and adults, from manufacturers such as Sony, JBL, Apple, Samsung, Marshall, Skullcandy, Bose and Fesh’n rebel, among others. They include models of high, low and measured rangeseven some without a recognized brand sold in markets such as Temu and Shein, which are also the ones that showed the greatest toxicity.

With this analysis, ‘ToxFree LIFE for All’ also urges European policymakers to “abandon the slow ‘substance by substance’ approach and adopt group-based restrictions for flame retardants and bisphenols“, as stated in the statement shared by Arnika, one of the driving organizations.

Arnika chemistry expert Karolina Brabcová even stated that “the commitment of the Chemical Substances Strategy for Sustainabilityadopted in 2021, must be fulfilled as soon as possible, given the recent findings of the sampling campaign.