Adhesive bandages are frequently used products that can cause skin irritation and are often made of harmful materials. Bandages are usually made from a plastic or fabric strip (the main part, also called an adhesive sheet), an adhesive, a cotton absorbent pad, and a backing. There can be toxins in each of these components.
Most adhesive bandages contain plastic. When plastic is used for the main part of the bandage, it's usually PVC, polyurethane, nylon, or polyethylene. With fabric bandages, plastic can be woven into the material. In addition, when fabric material isn't organic, it may contain pesticides. The bandage backing is also usually plastic. Polyurethane exposure can lead to inflammation, testosterone disruption, cytotoxicity (cell harm), and oxidative stress, while nylon has been linked to reproductive harm and potentially cancer. Different additives in plastic can also contribute to toxicity. For example, tricresyl phosphate, a neurotoxin, is used as a plasticizer in some PVC bandages and polyurethane. You can read more about the health impacts of plastic here.
There are three main kinds of adhesives in bandages: polyisobutylene (PIB), poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (PSBS), and acrylic. One study found that PIB activates an immune response and commented that this may lead to the development of colorectal cancer in humans. Other than that, it appears to be safe.
PSBS adhesives should probably be avoided due to the carcinogenic components in PSBS. Butadiene can cause leukemia and genetic damage, although more research is needed on skin exposure. Occupational exposure studies also indicate that exposure to styrene can lead to leukemia, lymph cancer, and other cancers in the parts of the body responsible for blood cell production, as well as DNA damage in white blood cells.
Acrylic bandage adhesives are composed of alkyl acrylate or methacrylate esters, ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, and vinyl lactam. A hydroxy acrylate ester, such as hydroxyethyl acrylate and hydroxypropyl acrylate, may also be included. A variety of esters can be used. Some of the health effects linked to some of these are skin irritation, cytotoxicity, gene expression disruption, DNA damage, neurotoxicity, and potentially birth defects and other reproductive issues. For ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, effects can include skin irritation, DNA damage, potentially birth defects, and cell death. Some types of vinyl lactam are linked to skin irritation and liver, kidney, and blood production harm. Hydroxyethyl acrylate has been found to cause allergic reactions, cell harm (including changes in gene expression), DNA damage, and skin irritation. Hydroxypropyl acrylate can also irritate the skin, trigger skin allergies, and harm cells. Besides these, adhesives may contain a variety of other ingredients that differ between brands.
PFAS have been widely found in bandages. In one study, 65% of tested bandages contained these chemicals. PFAS were detected in both the adhesive sheets and the absorbent pads. Band-Aid, Up & Up, and Equate bandages were among those with PFAS.
Unfortunately, there are currently no perfect substitutes for adhesive bandages. Liquid bandages can contain ingredients like benzethonium chloride and acetone. Benzethonium chloride and acetone are irritants, and acetone may also alter the immune response. For now, I recommend Patch and For Earth By Us (FEBU) adhesive bandages. Patch bandages are made of organic bamboo, and they're PFAS-free. Patch unfortunately doesn't specify the exact ingredients used, but they are still a step above regular bandages. FEBU bandages' materials include organic bamboo, propal-2-ol, ethyl acetate, n-heptane, naphtha, methylcyclohexane, and toluene. Ethyl acetate, toluene, and methylcyclohexane can be irritants, and n-heptane and methylcyclohexane may affect the liver and kidneys, but otherwise, the ingredients seem safe. FEBU bandages are also PFAS-free, plastic-free, and home-compostable! Many people with sensitive skin who usually react to bandages haven't had issues with these ones, which is encouraging. Until better options for adhesive materials are implemented or developed, Patch and FEBU are good bandage alternatives. Between the two brands, I would choose FEBU because they disclose some ingredients, don't appear to print on the bandages, and make the bandages compostable.
Here's where I got some of this info!
Adhesive bandages, wound dressings, sutures, drapes, orthodontic rubber bands, toothbrushes, and the like - PODELL; HOWARD I. (freepatentsonline.com)
Allergic Contact Dermatitis Secondary to Bandage With Fragrance: A Survey of Ingredients Found in Bandages | Dermatitis® (liebertpub.com)
Benchmarking the in Vitro Toxicity and Chemical Composition of Plastic Consumer Products | Environmental Science & Technology (acs.org)
Synthesis and characterization of micro-sized polyisobutylene and evaluation of its toxicological effects on the development and homeostasis of zebrafish (Danio rerio) | Scientific Reports (nature.com)
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