Are PFAS hiding in your sports and kinesiology tape?
The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals recently tested sports and kinesiology tapes and found that over 40% contained PFAS.
They tested ten sports tapes and nine kinesiology tapes purchased in 2026 from Danish stores and online retailers, as well as online marketplaces outside the EU. Sports and kinesiology tapes are applied directly to the skin to help support joints and muscles during injuries or physical activity.
Eight of the 19 tapes tested contained PFAS, including illegal PFAS at levels above permitted limits. PFAS were found in both types of tape.
The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals reported all eight tapes to the Danish Environmental Protection Agency’s Chemicals Inspection Service. They also contacted the companies behind the tapes containing PFAS, and their responses are available here.
PFAS are a group of around 10,000 chemicals often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ as they are highly persistent and take generations to break down in the environment. They are used in industrial manufacturing and in a wide range of consumer products due to their ability to repel both grease and water. Exposure to some PFAS has been linked with adverse health impacts, including certain cancers, reduced fertility, and the disruption of the immune system.
The other 11 tapes tested did not contain PFAS, showing that safer options are available.
We are constantly exposed to a complex cocktail of known and suspected harmful chemicals from multiple sources, including air, water, food and consumer products. Products like sports and kinesiology tapes containing harmful chemicals can contribute to our overall exposure. Consumers shouldn’t have to bear the burden of avoiding harmful chemicals, instead stronger regulations are needed to protect us.
The EU is currently considering a universal ban on PFAS that would restrict PFAS as a group rather than one by one. CHEM Trust supports this approach, as regulating PFAS individually is ineffective and only a comprehensive, group-based restriction that includes all consumer and industrial uses can solve the PFAS pollution crisis. Read our blog on the universal PFAS ban here.
