Band-Aids are often thought of as a healing agent. You put a sticky bandage over a cut or wound to start the healing process. However, a recent study says the common healthcare item may actually cause health problems instead of helping to fix them.
What did the study find? And what does it mean for consumers?
Organic Fluorine Found in 26 Popular Bandage Brands
Environmental Health News and Mamavation recently teamed up to test materials used in consumer bandage products. The groups tested 40 bandages that can be commonly found in leading drug and grocery stores.
The organizations sent the bandages to an EPA-certified lab and had them tested for detectable levels of organic fluorine, an indicator of the group of chemicals known as PFAS.
The study discovered organic fluorine in 26 of the tested bandages. Eighteen brands had bandages that tested positive for the substance.
The brands that included the highest levels of fluorine included Band-Aid, Care Science, Curad, CVS Health, Equate, First Honey, Rite Aid brand, Solimo (Amazon brand), and Up & Up (Target’s brand), according to reporting by The Daily Mail.
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What Are PFAs? Are They Dangerous?
Organic fluorine is a chemical which studies say can indicate the presence of PFAS. PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” and are said to be potentially dangerous to humans.
The detection of organic fluorine and the possible presence of PFAS on the adhesive portion of many bandages is concerning to some experts.
“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, scientist emeritus and former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program and scholar at residence at Duke University.
When forever chemicals enter the bloodstream, they can lodge themselves within healthy tissue. Once in the tissue, the chemicals can damage the immune system as well as the liver, kidneys, and other organs.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:
- Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
- Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
- Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
- Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
- Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
- Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is uncertain how PFAS affect humans, but they say studies on animals have found that PFAS affect reproduction, thyroid function, and immune systems and also cause liver damage.
What Does This Mean for Consumers?
Currently, there are no indications that consumers have experienced negative health effects from bandages. But if consumers start to come forward with signs of negative health outcomes after using the bandages, lawsuits could follow.
PFAs can be found in a variety of consumer products, and some companies are already paying the price for using them in their products. PFAS lawsuits have already been filed by municipalities and Attorney Generals.
In June 2023, 3M reached a $10.3 billion settlement to fund testing and clean up of PFAS they produced that may have contaminated public water supplies, as reported by the New York Times.
Consumer lawsuits could also follow the discovery of potential PFAs in bandages.
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What To Do If Sick or Injured by Consumer Products
Under product liability and product defect laws, consumers can seek damages from a company that made contaminated or defective products. If a consumer is injured by a product that did not include a proper warning, the consumer can sue for personal injury.
Consumer-led class action lawsuits have already been filed against some companies that are said to use PFAs in their products.
Thinx period underwear recently settled a $4 million class action lawsuit after BPAS were found in high quantities in their product, as reported by The Daily Mail.
If consumers feel they have been misled into using dangerous products or if they are found to have sustained an injury from using products such as bandages, many more lawsuits may follow.
Related: How to Prove Fault in Personal Injury Case
Discuss Your Consumer Product Liability Case
If you have been injured or experienced an illness due to the failure of a consumer product, help is available. A personal injury attorney experienced in product liability can help you get compensation for the damage caused by a toxic or defective product.
Talk to TJ Grimaldi today. All consultations are free, so share your story and see if you have a case worth fighting for. Schedule your consultation or call 813-226-1023 now.
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