State bans on Pfas reduce ‘forever chemicals’ in clothing and textiles, US report finds

State laws banning Pfas in clothing and textiles have significantly reduced the amount of toxic “forever chemicals” used in the products, which public health advocates say marks a major public health win and underscores the value in protective policy.However, some companies appear to have ignored the laws as their products still contain high levels of Pfas.About 80% of the approximately 115 products tested showed levels of Pfas that complied with state laws. The products were purchased from internet and brick-and-mortar retailers in New York and California, which are implementing bans on the intentional addition of Pfas.The testing looked at products from companies previously known to use the chemicals. Columbia raincoats, Lululemon pants, Moab shoes, and other products from major brands showed very low levels of markers of Pfas.The findings show that enacting strong laws “is making a difference”, said Anna Reade, a report co-author and senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council.“It is really encouraging to see such a drastic change in such a short amount of time, and these brands all switched, and no one has had to shut down business because they moved away from Pfas,” Reade added.Pfas are a class of at least 16,000 compounds most frequently used to make products water-, stain- and grease-resistant. They have been linked to cancer, birth defects, decreased immunity, high cholesterol, kidney disease and a range of other serious health problems. They are dubbed “forever chemicals” because they can persist for thousands of years in the environment, and are designed to be indestructible.The chemicals are added to clothing and textiles as stain guards, odor barriers, UV protectants, and waterproofing agents. They’re most frequently found in boots, raincoats, and outdoor gear. Public health advocates in recent years have increasingly pressured companies to remove Pfas from their supply chains, but many have resisted, claiming that effective alternatives do not exist, or a switch would be too expensive.However, some producers began switching to alternatives without being pressured. Others responded as state laws began generating market pressure – it does not make financial or logistical sense for a company to produce clothing that does not contain Pfas for sale in California, but does contain Pfas for sale in other states, Reade said.New York and California passed their laws in 2022, and companies such as Levi’s, LL Bean, Patagonia, Old Navy and others largely eliminated their use of intentionally added Pfas by the end of 2024 – just before the laws went into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Pfas producer Gore-Tex now makes a Pfas-free alternative waterproofing agent, though some of its products still contain the chemicals.Most of the clothing is not entirely Pfas-free because forever chemicals are so widely used in the supply chain that it can be difficult to pinpoint the contamination source. For example, Pfas lubricants are used on machinery in factories across virtually every industry, and some level of residue can end up on consumer goods.However, it is difficult to determine whether companies are intentionally adding low levels of Pfas, or if the chemicals that are detected are unintentional contamination. Reade said about 70% of the goods were at levels that strongly suggested unintentional addition, while about 10% were found to be in a gray area.Companies that produce diapers, outdoor furniture, and pet products accounted for most of the violations. Companies that exceed limits could be reported to the states’ attorneys general, while California will soon implement an enforcement mechanism.“The market is moving – laggards must quickly move away from using Pfas and protect consumers, regardless of where they shop,” Reade said.