JAKARTA - Recent research has revealed a finding related to the presence of harmful chemical substances that disrupt hormones in various popular headphone brands.
Launching NME, the 60-page report titled "Contamination Sound: A Comprehensive Analysis of Endocrine Disruptors and Harmful Additives in Headphones" reveals that the devices we use every day have the potential to carry serious health risks.
The comprehensive study was conducted by the non-profit organization Anika, which works under the EU-funded ToxFree LIFE initiative.
Researchers conducted laboratory tests on 81 headphone models purchased from various major online market platforms. Unfortunately, the products tested include global giant brands that are very familiar to consumers, including Apple, Sony, Samsung, to Sennheiser.
The results of the analysis showed that all the tested models contained harmful industrial chemicals, namely bisphenol (BPA), phthalates, and flame retardants.
The European Environment Agency (EEA) has previously reported that the three substances are closely linked to endocrine disorders. These chemicals are known to mimic the body's natural hormones, which in the long run are associated with the risk of cancer, infertility problems, and neurological disorders.
Although the study noted that only 11 percent of the models whose chemicals came into direct contact with the skin were significantly so, about 44 percent of the total models tested fell into the "unsatisfactory" category.
Responding to this finding, a report from RTL said that a number of retailers have taken decisive steps by removing the problematic models from their shelves to protect consumers.
On the other hand, the issue of headphone use is now a dilemma in public spaces. While the health risks are beginning to loom, the pressure to use headphones is actually getting stronger in the transportation industry.
Recently, United Airlines tightened rules for passengers who play music or videos without headphones on board.
The move by the US airline reflects global unease about noise pollution in public spaces.
Even in the UK, the Liberal Democrats were in the spotlight when they proposed fines of up to 1,000 pounds for public transport passengers who dared to play music loudly without a personal listening device.
This situation puts consumers in a difficult position: on the one hand, they must maintain ethics in public spaces by wearing headphones, but on the other hand, they must be more selective about product materials for long-term health.
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