Popular adhesive bandage brands may contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) called “forever chemicals” linked to endocrine disruption, thyroid disorders, infertility, and other health conditions, according to a recent consumer study.

Additionally, 26 of the 40 bandages tested contained organic fluorine above 10 ppm, and 63 percent of bandages marketed to people with black and brown skin tones tested positive for PFAS.

To identify PFAS in the bandages, the lab tested for the presence of organic fluorine because PFAS molecules have a chain of linked carbon and fluorine atoms. If organic fluorine was detected in a sample, the product contained PFAS. If the total fluorine was 10 ppm or greater, scientists conducted further testing to determine the amount of organic fluorine it contained. Testing for organic fluorine can also capture other fluoropolymers, pharmaceuticals, and hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants—all of which are PFAS, according to Mamavation.

Scott Belcher, associate professor with the Center for Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University, told Mamavation that fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), are “extremely common forms of PFAS that could be contributing to the organic fluorine found in bandages.”

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The testing method used by Mamavation’s lab cannot directly identify a specific PFAS, such as PTFE. However, testing for total organic fluorine will account for all PFAS contaminants in bandages, including PTFE. Hence, the testing method serves as a good “spot check” for consumer products, Mr. Belcher said.

“Many PFAS compounds have been identified as endocrine disruptors of hormone action. In tiny amounts in the body, hormones control what developing humans become and also maintain conditions of optimal functioning,” Mr. Collins told The Epoch Times.

“Some PFAS compounds are known to disrupt hormone action to correlate with impaired development where exposed creatures become something different from what undisrupted nature intended and with numerous chronic diseases.

“In most cases, PFAS chemicals are aptly named ‘forever chemicals’—once you are contaminated, you will likely take the PFAS to the grave.

“Testing of the immense family of PFAS compounds for endocrine disruption is woefully inadequate. The regulatory control of endocrine disruptors is currently pitiful. We need to consider all PFAS compounds as suspect endocrine disruptors.”

According to the Environmental Working Group, many of the studies linked PFAS exposure in utero to health complications in unborn babies, young children, and adults later in life. Others linked cord blood exposure with disruptions to thyroid glands and microbial cells in the colon.

“More research needs to be done to understand what these exposures mean to public health, but in the meantime, we recommend purchasing products that, according to our lab, do not have detections,” Ms. Segedie said.

Likewise, Mr. Collins said that “given the balance of what we do know and, unacceptably, do not know,” he strongly recommends choosing adhesive bandages that are not testing positive for PFAS on Mamavation’s analysis.