European retailers are beginning to pull potentially hazardous headphone and earbud models from shelves after a study revealed traces of hormone-disrupting chemicals in popular brands.
The audio industry is facing a potential shakeup following the discovery of endocrine disruptors in a wide range of headphones and earbuds. A European investigation, part of the ToxFree LIFE for All project, analyzed 81 models currently available on the market to identify potentially dangerous chemical substances in these everyday devices, often used for extended periods.
The findings are concerning: every product tested contained problematic compounds, and no brand was spared, including well-known names like Apple, Beats, Samsung, Bose, JBL, Razer, and Sennheiser. Researchers found that all tested products contained at least traces of harmful chemicals – endocrine disruptors already known to health services.
The alert has prompted some European retailers – including MediaMarkt, Coolblue, and Bol.com – to remove the most at-risk models from their catalogs, as reported by The Verge. Yet, manufacturers have not initiated similar withdrawals, asserting their products comply with legal safety requirements and criticizing the study’s thresholds as stricter than official standards. Currently, no widespread recalls have been reported in France, unlike the Netherlands or Germany.
Contaminated Headphones: Which Models Are Affected?
A total of 81 headphone and earbud models tested positive for the presence of concerning chemicals. Here’s a breakdown by category:
Earbuds for Adults
- Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen)
- Beats Solo Buds
- Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
- Huawei FreeBuds Pro 3 or 4
- Jabra Elite 10 Gen 2
- JBL Tour Pro 3 and Wave Beam
- JLab JBuds Mini
- Marshall Motif II ANC
- Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro
- Sennheiser Accentum (Wireless and True Wireless)
- Sony WF-1000XM5, WF-C510 and LinkBuds Fit
- Xiaomi Redmi Buds 5 Pro
- Other models (Shein, Temu, Auchan…): KZ EDX Pro, JMMO Wireless, LifeBee Digital Pro 40, Cool Black In-Ear, Silvercrest True Wireless.
Headphones for Adults
- Apple AirPods Max 2024
- Beats Solo 4
- Bose QuietComfort headphone
- Haylou S35 ANC
- JBL Tune 720BT
- JLab JBuds Lux ANC
- Marshall Major V
- Niceboy Hive Prodigy 4
- Panasonic RB-HX220BDEK
- Philips SHD8850
- Sennheiser Momentum Wireless 4
- Sony WH-1000XM5, WH-CH720N and Ult Wear
- Temu, Auchan: Picun B8, Qilive 136030
Gaming Headsets
- Corsair HS80 RGB
- HyperX Cloud III
- Logitech G733 Lightspeed
- Onikuma X26
- Razer Kraken V3
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5
- Qilive 600181408
Headphones and Earbuds for Children
- Buddyphones Connect
- Claire’s Earbuds & winder caticorn
- Hama Freedom Lit
- JBL JR310BT
- JLab JBuddies Studio
- JVC HA-KD7
- Maxell HP-BT350
- Nextly wireless headphone with cat ears
- Onikuma B90
- Pepco Dasounds
- Philips TAK4206
- Skullcandy Grom
- Tonies Lauscher (2nd Gen)
- Unicorn Decor (Shein)
- Qilive Kids
- Xinxu Wireless
Contaminated Headphones: High Doses of Toxic Substances
The analysis revealed a significant presence of endocrine disruptors, particularly bisphenols like BPA, detected in 98% of samples, and Bisphenol S (BPS), found in over three-quarters of cases. Other chemical substances identified included phthalates, PFAS (“forever chemicals”), and flame retardants. These compounds are commonly used in plastic manufacturing to enhance durability or flexibility, but are also known to interfere with the hormonal system.
Some models, such as the Sennheiser Accentum True Wireless and Bose QuietComfort, showed concentrations reaching up to 315 mg/kg – thirty times the 10 mg/kg limit recommended by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). The widespread use of these substances, even in low concentrations, raises concerns about potential cumulative effects, particularly for vulnerable populations like children, adolescents, and pregnant women.
This represents particularly concerning given the direct skin contact and prolonged use of these devices. Body heat and perspiration can facilitate the absorption of certain compounds through the skin, raising questions about the effects of long-term, daily exposure.
Contaminated Headphones: What are the Health Consequences?
The risk is that these substances are endocrine disruptors capable of mimicking or blocking the action of natural hormones, potentially disrupting numerous biological processes. They are suspected of being involved in various health issues, ranging from fertility problems to chronic diseases and hormone-dependent cancers, although establishing definitive causal links remains challenging.
However, the study’s results should be viewed with some nuance. The research measures the concentration of these substances in materials, without evaluating their actual absorption into the body under real-world conditions. It is therefore based on chemical analysis and does not constitute clinical proof of direct contamination. The study was published by a consortium of consumer and environmental organizations, rather than through the traditional peer-review process of scientific publications.
Manufacturers have quickly questioned the study’s methodology. “The study used its own testing criteria and reported the product based on thresholds for BPA-related substances that are stricter than those generally applied to plastics used in electronic products,” Anna Forsgren, Head of Product Compliance and Sustainability at Marshall Group, told The Verge. Sennheiser stated it had contacted the report’s authors “in the hope of obtaining the exact data concerning the Sennheiser products tested, in order to verify our results and decide on the next steps,” without success to date. Their interest in the study, however, suggests a willingness to improve their products.
