EU study finds BPA toxins in 81 headphone brands

A large European Union-funded study conducted by ToxFree Life tested headphones and earbuds for BPA, a toxic substance often found in plastic and metal products, and found that all tested brands contained the toxin.

EU-funded study finds BPA toxins in headphones

The study tested 81 headphone and earbud models, including models by popular brands such as Apple, JBL, Bose, and Samsung, as well as lesser-known brands sold at Lidl and MediaMarkt. Researchers found that all of the tested models contained BPA, with some having higher concentrations than others.

BPA is a toxic substance known to affect fertility and immunity. Since 2025, all food packaging in the EU must be BPA-free. The ToxFree Life for All researchers reassured that there is no “acute” danger in products like headphones, but that long-term exposure could pose “risks to public health”, especially during intensive use, when sweating, or for prolonged periods.

A list of all tested headphone brands and models is available in the ToxFree Life for All study. 

Dutch retailers remove headphones with bpa toxins

The study findings have prompted retailers in the Netherlands, such as Bol.com, Coolblue and MediaMarkt, to remove headphone models containing BPA from sale as a precautionary measure. So far, MediaMarkt or other retailers in Germany have not followed suit.

Meanwhile, the Dutch Consumer Association (Consumentenbond) advised consumers to limit prolonged skin contact with the headphones. For example, don't hold them around your neck when not in use. And don't put them in your mouth. "Don't suck on the cable while wearing the headphones," the consumer organisation told NU.nl.

But Dutch toxicologist Jan Tytgat says more evidence is needed before headphone users should start worrying, as research is still needed to determine the risk of absorption through the skin. While BPA in packaging for food or baby dummies is a complete no-go, it might be negligible for other products like headphones.

"I've never seen the substances of concern detected in the plasma or urine of people who wear headphones intensively. I don't think that has been properly measured yet," Tytgat told NOS. “That absorption will be very limited anyway; it’s much more important to focus on nutrition.”