Hazardous substances found in all headphones tested by ToxFREE project

115 points by bojun 6 hours ago on reddit | 21 comments

thetransportedman | 6 hours ago

It's been shown that BPA in solid plastics contain minimal risk of dermal absorption. Just don't eat your headphones. The main risk of exposure of bpa is in the lining of canned drinks and foods

Xzenor | 5 hours ago

>Just don't eat your headphones

Jfc, then WHY don't they put that on the packaging.. I have 5 new headphones for my lunch next week. Now what am I supposed to eat?? Fml...

liverswithfavabeans | 3 hours ago

I suggest vinyl flooring! It’s got that crunch. Spread some caulk on for added flavor and texture!

But seriously. It is scary to think about how much plastic we are exposed to between automobiles, home furnishings, construction materials, and clothing.

It’s impossible to avoid.

gymleader_michael | 2 hours ago

Did the test factor in increased temperature and moisture like from exercising?

tmurg375 | 5 hours ago

A lot of these chemicals, BPA specifically act as an estrogen, meaning a small dose can have big hormonal changes

Edit: to all of those doubting, see for yourself instead of listening to Reddit dumbasses

Edit 2: here’s another about hormone related cancers

ServantOfBeing | 5 hours ago

Fuck that, just make them with shit that is somewhat inert.

Facial skin is far more permeable than the rest of the skin on our body. As in more absorbent.

So while it’s minimal, its also increased.

Sweat & oils break these plastics down overtime.

Id rather there be outrage over this. So there’s increased interest in using other materials.

GodzillaSuit | 5 hours ago

This feels like fear mongering to me. Unless people are eating their headphones I'm not convinced there's any significant risk there. It's like when people got all fired up about there being lead in Stanley cups, but in order to even access that you would have to crack the whole cup open and start licking the inside. It's not really a problem unless you're doing something wrong.

Just wait until these people find out how many hazardous materials are in cars. And sofas. And televisions. And cleaning products.

As long as items are being used in the manner in which they are supposed to be used, people are probably going to be fine.

N-Phenyl-Acetamide | 4 hours ago

Yeah, wait till they find out what that "new car smell" actually is....

Metaclueless | 3 hours ago

lol. Spoiler. It’s >!glue!<

N-Phenyl-Acetamide | 3 hours ago

Also off gassing plastics

sweetica | 6 hours ago

And of course all the children are wearing headphones at school while on their Chromebooks. The United States needs to follow suit with Denmark and no longer allow screens in the classroom. Cognitive function was restored to students after they took away their screens at school and tightly regulated any computer use for educational reasons. With less computers use there can be less children on toxic headphones.

Additionally, headphone companies get your act together and stop making toxic plastic products! Heck, make him out of metal if you have to, I don't mind the steampunk vibe.

Cbrandel | 6 hours ago

This is not a headphone issue but rather all plastic articles will have similar issues.

sweetica | 6 hours ago

Right which is why I mentioned we should make it out of metal. Imagine all plastic items made with metal or wood. I think steampunk electronics would look so slick.

Bacon_Nipples | 5 hours ago

No. It would look cool but be uncomfortable as fuck and far more expensive. Also potential signal issues around wireless headphones

SelarDorr | 6 hours ago

Lol. we're supposed to be concerned about transdermal delivery of BPA?

B-Bog | 2 hours ago

Sounds like a whole lot of nothing and just more chemophobia. As soon as I hear that typical "there are no safe levels of XYZ" hogwash, I'm out.

Djcnote | 6 hours ago

I wonder if there's lead as well. People are acting crazy these days

Lifeabroad86 | 5 hours ago

Naw all the pharmaceuticalz in our drinking water takes care of that

Edit: i wasnt joking

https://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/drugs-in-the-water

https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/pharmaceuticals-in-drinking-water.html

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258991472400046X

https://www.amwa.net/policy-resolution/pharmaceuticals-water

https://academic.oup.com/ijpp/article/33/4/360/8154562

Diceyland | 2 hours ago

You're acting like it's out in there by the government or something. People excrete it and it goes in the water or they flush their medications. It's not like it's from the pharmaceutical companies either. Yet at least. That might change with environmental regulations becoming more lax.

Lifeabroad86 | 55 minutes ago

Where did i say the government did it? What you describe is exactly what I was referring to.

Lifeabroad86 | 52 minutes ago

Btw this just happened recently. Someone made a rounding error and thought this was safe in the river. Could you imagine what else is in that water that companies fail or refuse to report? Sometimes its just easier and cheaper to pay the fines!

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/potomac-river-e-coli-levels-skyrocket-240-million-gallons-sewage-pour-rcna259420