Forever Chemicals In Clothing Are Now Banned In Some States. A Toxicologist Reveals If You Should Throw Out Your Old Stuff
In clothing, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) could soon be a thing of the past. This month, bans on these forever chemicals are going into effect in some states, including California and New York.
They aren't the only ones. At least 14 states have adopted measures to keep PFAS off of clothes, and others are likely to follow. Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a rule that keeps companies from starting or resuming the manufacture or processing of 329 PFAS that haven’t been made or used for years without a review and risk determination from the agency.
So how worried should you be about PFAS in clothes—and should you throw out your old pieces? Here’s what you need to know, according to a toxicologist.
Meet the expert: Jamie Alan, PhD, is an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.
What are PFAS?
PFAS is another word for forever chemicals. These are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used since the 1940s across a wide range of products, per the EPA.
Many PFAS break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time, which is why there’s so much concern surrounding them. PFAS can be found nearly everywhere, including in drinking water, soil, food, household products, and dust, the EPA says.
What do PFAS do to the body?
Research into the impact of PFAS on the body is ongoing. However, PFAS has been linked to a slew of health problems, including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, a higher risk of certain cancers, immune system issues, and a higher risk of obesity, according to the EPA.
“These ‘forever chemicals’ have received a lot of attention lately for adverse health events,” says Jamie Alan, PhD, an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University.
Which clothing pieces are most likely to contain PFAS?
Some types of clothes are more likely to contain PFAS than others. In general, outdoor jackets and textiles that are designed to be water- and stain-resistant are big culprits, according to the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN).
In 2022, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a scorecard breaking down the brands that were the most and least likely to have PFAS in their clothes. Macy’s, Nordstrom, Costco, REI, and Wolverine Worldwide were among the worst, while Levi Strauss & Co. got the best grade for removing PFAS from its supply chain. Of the outdoor brands, Patagonia was the least likely to have PFAS in its clothing.
L.L. Bean, Columbia Sportswear, and Patagonia have all announced that new products are free of intentionally-added PFAS, per the Wall Street Journal.
Should I get rid of clothing pieces that contain PFAS? Are they dangerous?
If you have a snow or rain jacket you love, and you suspect or know that it contains PFAS, you don’t necessarily need to toss it. (Also, replacing it can be expensive and can contribute to environmental waste.) In fact, Alan says that ingesting PFAS in food is “much more likely to cause health issues,” compared to wearing it against your skin.
However, given how widespread PFAS are in our environment, it’s a good idea to be aware of how many PFAS you’re exposed to overall—that way, you can decide what to avoid.
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