A new study finds toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in children’s clothing but highlights the availability of PFAS-free alternatives.

The study, led by Arnika, IPEN, and 14 partner organisations, including CHEM Trust, revealed the presence of toxic PFAS chemicals in outdoor coats and clothing from 13 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. Out of 72 clothing items tested – including coats, swimsuits, and t-shirts – 46 items (64%) contained PFAS, revealing a widespread issue. PFOA, a globally banned PFAS, was the most common chemical in the coats tested.

However, only 1 of the 7 items tested in the UK contained PFAS, demonstrating that PFAS-free alternatives are widely available.

PFAS are a family of over 10,000 chemicals that are known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to the fact that they will last a long time in the environment. They are commonly used in clothing from outdoor jackets to everyday wear for their water and stain-resistant properties. Some PFAS can build up in the bodies of people and wildlife, and the most studied chemicals in the group have been linked to developmental issues, immune system problems, and other serious health conditions.

In 2022, CHEM Trust purchased five children’s coats and two puddle suits advertised as waterproof, water-resistant or showerproof from UK brands such as Peter Storm, Mountain Warehouse, and Regatta (find the complete list of brands included in the study here).

We took fabric from the outer layers of the items and sent them to a laboratory for testing. The testing revealed that one of the jackets contained a banned PFAS chemical.

The coat that contained PFAS was the Mountain Warehouse Seasons Printed Kids Water Resistant Padded Jacket. It contained a PFAS chemical that breaks down into PFOA, a globally banned substance that has been linked to certain cancers as well as immune and hormone system effects. By default, the PFAS chemical found in the jacket is also banned. It is alarming that a banned PFAS chemical was found in a coat marketed for children, particularly because children have an increased susceptibility to adverse health effects from chemicals.

A spokesperson from Mountain Warehouse said:

The product tested by CHEM Trust in 2022 was old stock which met chemical safety laws at the time. Mountain Warehouse has been working hard to eradicate PFCs from our products while retaining the waterproof functionality. We started our PFC-free journey in 2021 and have worked tirelessly with our supply chain to resolve challenges with PFC-free waterproof effectiveness. We are proud to say that all children’s products sourced since August 2022 have been PFC-free, and all adult clothing and accessories have been sourced PFC-free since December 2023.

No PFAS were found in the remaining six jackets. This demonstrates that many companies are opting for non-PFAS alternatives for waterproofing clothing, highlighting the unnecessary use of PFAS. The availability of PFAS-free alternatives also indicates that the transition to a PFAS-free economy is already underway.

Alongside NGO colleagues, CHEM Trust is calling on EU authorities and the UK government to ban all PFAS chemicals in consumer products, including clothing, by 2025.

To reduce your risk of exposure to PFAS chemicals in waterproof jackets, choose jackets that are labelled PFAS or PFC-free and ask shop assistants if clothing contains PFAS. You can find a list of brands that do not add PFAS to their products here.

For more information on the study and for our recommendations on what actions are required to address the PFAS pollution problem, read our blog.

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