PFAS in clothing: which clothes have forever chemicals

Updated · 30 sources · How we research

PFAS make water bead on a rain jacket and let ketchup wipe off a school uniform. They also stay in the environment, and in people, for a very long time.

What PFAS are

PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals with at least one carbon atom fully bonded to fluorine. That’s the OECD’s definition, and under it, more than 7 million compounds in the PubChem database count as PFAS. EPA’s own list of PFAS structures has 21,029.

The carbon-fluorine bond is one of the strongest in chemistry, so PFAS don’t break down easily. That’s where the name “forever chemicals” comes from. Nearly everyone in the US has PFAS in their blood, according to the CDC’s national survey, although levels of the two best-known ones have fallen sharply since they were phased out: PFOS by more than 85% and PFOA by more than 70% since 1999–2000.

What PFAS do to your health

The US National Academies found sufficient evidence linking PFAS exposure to a weaker antibody response to vaccines, higher cholesterol, lower infant and fetal growth, and kidney cancer in adults. IARC classifies PFOA as carcinogenic to humans. In 2024 EPA set drinking water limits for PFOA and PFOS of 4.0 parts per trillion, with a health goal of zero.

Which clothes have PFAS

PFAS follow the finish, not the fiber. A study of 93 products used by children and teenagers found targeted PFAS only in products labeled water- or stain-resistant, and a 2022 investigation found PFAS in 72% of products marketed with those claims.

Clothing Why PFAS are used What testing found
Rain jackets and outdoor gear Water-repellent (DWR) finishes, PTFE membranes PFOA in all 16 jackets bought in 2011–12; up to 19 µg/m² PFOA in outdoor textiles
School uniforms Stain-resistant finish Fluorine in 65% of 72 stain-resistant children’s textiles; PFAS in all 57 analyzed
Period underwear Leak resistance PFAS in all 19 reusable hygiene products given detailed testing
Stain-resistant clothing Stain and oil repellency PFAS in 72% of products marketed as stain- or water-resistant
Leggings Varies No peer-reviewed study yet

The school uniform results are a warning for cotton buyers too. In that study, stain-resistant 100% cotton uniforms had some of the highest PFAS levels; the authors suggest cotton likely needs more of the finish to repel stains.

In 2023 the period underwear brand Thinx settled a class action over claims its underwear contained PFAS, agreeing to a fund of up to $5 million and to measures meant to keep PFAS out of production. It denied liability.

Does polyester have PFAS?

The polyester fiber doesn’t. PET is made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. But synthetic outerwear and performance wear is where the water- and oil-repellent finishes are used most, and the PFAS studies of water-repellent clothing tested exactly those fabrics: polyester and nylon with fluorinated finishes.

Waterproof-breathable membranes are their own case. Classic membranes are expanded PTFE, a fluoropolymer, and fluoropolymers fall within the PFAS class. Gore defined “PFCs of environmental concern” in a way that left its PTFE membrane out, and its newer polyethylene membrane is sold as made without intentionally added PFAS.

Can PFAS get through your skin?

Some can, at least in the lab. In 3D human skin models, up to 58.9% of an applied short-chain PFAS was absorbed over a day or so, and longer-chain ones stayed in the skin tissue. That test dissolved the PFAS in methanol at a high dose, which helps them penetrate. In a study on real human skin, at most 7% of a short-chain PFAS crossed in 24 hours, and long-chain ones didn’t cross at all. Neither study tested PFAS coming from fabric.

PFAS leave clothes in the wash

The finishes don’t stay put. Studies of polyester and nylon with fluorinated water repellents found that aging and washing release PFAS, and that washing sheds fibers still carrying the fluorinated coating. Spray-on reproofers add more: PFAS were found in 60% of impregnating sprays in one survey.

Where PFAS in clothing are banned

New York banned the sale of new clothing with intentionally added PFAS from January 2025, with outdoor gear for severe wet conditions following in 2028. France banned PFAS in consumer clothing, footwear and waterproofing sprays from January 2026 and will extend that to all textiles in 2030. The EU restricts PFHxA, a common short-chain PFAS, in consumer clothing from 10 October 2026, and an EU-wide restriction on PFAS as a class, proposed in 2023, is still under review.

How to avoid PFAS in clothes

Start with the label. “Water-repellent,” “water-resistant,” “stain-resistant” and “stain-release” are the claims linked to PFAS. “Green” and “nontoxic” aren’t reliable: in the children’s product study, those words didn’t indicate a product was PFAS-free.

“PFAS-free” usually means none were intentionally added. “PFC-free” can be narrower. Certifications go further: GOTS bans all PFAS in processing, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 bans intentional use and sets residue limits, and bluesign says it has restricted PFAS in its approved materials since 2025.

You probably don’t need fluorine to stay dry. The best fluorine-free water repellents keep rain out as well as short-chain fluorinated ones; what they can’t repel is oil.

Fibers in this guide

Frequently asked questions

Does polyester have PFAS?

Polyester itself doesn't. PET is made of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, with no fluorine. PFAS get onto polyester, nylon and cotton through water-, stain- and oil-repellent finishes, which is why outdoor and performance wear is where they turn up most.

Can you wash PFAS out of clothes?

Not reliably. PFAS finishes are designed to survive washing, and studies of water-repellent fabrics found that washing and aging release PFAS into the water and can even raise the amount that can be extracted from the fabric.

Do leggings have PFAS?

There's no peer-reviewed study of PFAS in leggings. The leggings results that circulate online come from commissioned lab tests published by bloggers. What the research does show is that PFAS are found in products labeled water- or stain-resistant.

Is Gore-Tex a PFAS?

Classic Gore-Tex membranes are expanded PTFE, a fluoropolymer, which counts as a PFAS under the OECD definition. Gore's newer ePE membrane is sold as made without intentionally added PFAS.

Can PFAS be absorbed through the skin?

Some can, in lab tests. In 3D human skin models, up to 58.9% of an applied short-chain PFAS was absorbed, and longer ones lodged in the skin. A study on human skin found far less absorption. Neither tested PFAS delivered from fabric.

What does PFAS-free mean on a clothing label?

Usually that no PFAS were intentionally added; traces may remain. "PFC-free" can be narrower: Gore's own PFC definition excluded its PTFE membrane. Certifications such as GOTS ban all PFAS.

Sources

  1. Schymanski EL et al. (2023), Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in PubChem: 7 Million and Growing, Environmental Science & Technology. doi.org
  2. US EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard (2026), PFASSTRUCTV6: PFAS structures in DSSTox. comptox.epa.gov
  3. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (2026), Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). niehs.nih.gov
  4. ATSDR/CDC (2024), Fast Facts: PFAS in the U.S. Population. atsdr.cdc.gov
  5. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2022), Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up. nationalacademies.org
  6. IARC Monographs Volume 135 (2023), PFOA and PFOS; summarized in Zahm S et al., The Lancet Oncology 25(1):16–17, 2024. iarc.who.int
  7. US EPA (2024), Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. epa.gov
  8. Toxic-Free Future (2022), Toxic Convenience: The hidden costs of forever chemicals in stain- and water-resistant products. toxicfreefuture.org
  9. Rodgers KM et al. (2022), How Well Do Product Labels Indicate the Presence of PFAS in Consumer Items Used by Children and Adolescents?, Environmental Science & Technology. doi.org
  10. Xia C et al. (2022), Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in North American School Uniforms, Environmental Science & Technology. doi.org
  11. Kotthoff M et al. (2015), Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in consumer products, Environmental Science and Pollution Research. doi.org
  12. Gremmel C, Frömel T, Knepper TP (2016), Systematic determination of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in outdoor jackets, Chemosphere 160:173-180. doi.org
  13. Wicks A et al. (2025), Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Reusable Feminine Hygiene Products, Environmental Science & Technology Letters 12(8):924-929. doi.org
  14. Dickens et al. v. Thinx, Inc., No. 1:22-cv-04286-JMF (S.D.N.Y. June 8, 2023), Order Granting Final Approval of Class Action Settlement. truthinadvertising.org
  15. W. L. Gore & Associates (2017), Gore Fabrics' Goal and Roadmap for Eliminating PFCs of Environmental Concern. gore-tex.com
  16. W. L. Gore & Associates, Next-Gen GORE-TEX Products with ePE Membrane. gore-tex.com
  17. Kwiatkowski CF et al. (2020), Scientific Basis for Managing PFAS as a Chemical Class, Environmental Science & Technology Letters. doi.org
  18. Ragnarsdóttir O, Abou-Elwafa Abdallah M, Harrad S (2024), Dermal bioavailability of perfluoroalkyl substances using in vitro 3D human skin equivalent models, Environment International. doi.org
  19. Espartero LJL et al. (2025), Dermal permeation of perfluoroalkyl substances in human skin: an in-vitro study, Chemosphere. doi.org
  20. van der Veen I et al. (2022), Fate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances from Durable Water-Repellent Clothing during Use, Environmental Science & Technology 56(9):5886-5897. doi.org
  21. Schellenberger S et al. (2019), Release of Side-Chain Fluorinated Polymer-Containing Microplastic Fibers from Functional Textiles During Washing and First Estimates of Perfluoroalkyl Acid Emissions, Environmental Science & Technology 53(24):14329-14338. doi.org
  22. Hill PJ, Taylor M, Goswami P, Blackburn RS (2017), Substitution of PFAS chemistry in outdoor apparel and the impact on repellency performance, Chemosphere 181:500-507. doi.org
  23. Favreau P et al. (2017), Multianalyte profiling of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in liquid commercial products, Chemosphere 171:491-501. doi.org
  24. Trudel D et al. (2008), Estimating consumer exposure to PFOS and PFOA, Risk Analysis 28(2):251-269. doi.org
  25. New York Environmental Conservation Law §37-0121, Apparel containing PFAS. nysenate.gov
  26. République française (2025), Loi n° 2025-188 du 27 février 2025 visant à protéger la population des risques liés aux PFAS. aida.ineris.fr
  27. European Commission (2024), Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2462 amending Annex XVII to REACH as regards PFHxA. eur-lex.europa.eu
  28. Global Standard gGmbH (2023), Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) Version 7.0. fr.usbcertification.com
  29. OEKO-TEX Service GmbH (2026), OEKO-TEX Restricted Substance List, Version 03.2026. oeko-tex.com
  30. bluesign technologies (2026), PFAS in clothing: bans and timeline. bluesign.com