Silicone Wristbands and Wearables to Assess Chemical Exposures

First described in 2014, silicone wristband technologies have gained increasing interest as personal chemical monitors. Silicone wristbands are low cost, easy-to-use, sensitive to low chemical concentrations, and sequester a wide range of bioavailable organic chemicals. Wristbands are comfortable, rugged, and do not interfere with daily activities. Between 2014 and early 2019, wristband results have been included in 23 peer-reviewed articles and have been worn by several thousand volunteers on six continents. This chapter provides an overview of silicone wristband passive sampling, considerations for laboratory processing, and research applications. Investigations have ranged from agricultural pesticide exposures in Africa to prenatal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposures in North America to consumer product-related chemical exposures in South America. Other silicone wearables include pet tags, which have been used to examine flame retardant exposures in context of feline hyperthyroidism. Future directions for wristbands include further investigating chemical mixtures, behavioral health interventions, and disaster-related chemical exposures. As an accessible exposure assessment tool, wristbands will complement research initiatives on the exposome and total exposure health, as well as promote collaborations between researchers and communities.