Retailers pull select headphones from sale following study about harmful chemicals

Select European retailers have pulled the sales of a number of headphone brands following a report that claimed they contain hormone-disrupting chemicals.

The study, titled The Sound Of Contamination, was published in February by Arnika, a Czech non-profit environmental organisation, as part of the ToxFree LIFE for All EU-funded initiative. It analysed 81 headphone models, 50 of which were from well-known brands, sold across Central Europe and online marketplaces.

The study claims that 100 percent of products contained hazardous substances, including bisphenols, phthalates, and flame retardants. While these products do not pose an acute or imminent danger, it says “the cumulative and synergistic effects of chronic exposure to these chemical classes pose a long-term risk to public health”.

Since the study was published, Dutch media outlet RTL has reported that online retailers, such as Bol.com, CoolBlue and Mediamarkt, have stopped selling some headphone models.

Karolína Brabcová, a campaign manager on toxic chemicals in consumer products at Arnika says (via The Verge), “We really think a systemic approach in banning and phasing out the most harmful chemicals — which have generational effects — is the way forward.”

Brabcová also says that several manufacturers reached out to Arnika to ask about how it conducted the study. The names of which she has not revealed, but believes this to show positive initiative from the companies.

The Verge also reports that it reached out to 11 major manufacturers included in the study, and only Bose, Sennheiser, and Marshall responded; all of which say that their products comply with legal safety requirements, and have questioned the methodology used in the study.

Sennheiser spokesperson Eric Palonen says it contacted the report authors “hoping to get the exact data for the Sennheiser products tested in order to verify our data and decide on next steps,” but claims the organisation didn’t provide the data it requested.

Anna Forsgren, product compliance and sustainability manager at Marshall Group, adds: “The study used its own testing criteria and flagged the product based on thresholds for BPA-related substances that are stricter than those typically applied to plastics used in electronic products.”

Forsgren also says that the company “welcome[s] reports like this as they drive greater transparency and accountability in the industry.”

Rachel is a DIY musician who began learning guitar and keyboard from her bedroom at 14. She has written news and features for MusicTech since 2022, and also has bylines across Kerrang!, Guitar.com, and The Forty-Five. Though a lover of heavy music, her guilty pleasure is 2000s pop.