Study Finds Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Clothing From 13 Countries

An international study by IPEN and Arnika has uncovered alarming levels of toxic chemicals, known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), in clothing sold across 13 countries, including children’s jackets. These chemicals, often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to breakdown in the environment, were found in 63.8% of the tested samples, with some products containing levels exceeding proposed European Union safety limits.

The Global Scope of Contamination
The study examined 72 clothing items from countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America. The focus was primarily on jackets marketed as water-resistant or stain-resistant, with a significant proportion aimed at children. A total of 56 jackets and 16 other clothing items such as swimsuits, aprons and raincoats were tested for 58 specific PFAS, as well as for extractable organic fluorine (EOF), which indicates the presence of PFAS.

The results were startling: 46 of the 72 items tested (63.8%) were found to contain PFAS. Among the jackets, 35 of the 56 (62.5%) were found to be contaminated. Items from countries like the Czech Republic, Kenya and India had the highest levels of contamination, with several samples exceeding the proposed EU safety limit of 25 parts per billion (ppb) for certain PFAS chemicals.

Toxicity and Health Concerns
PFAS are widely used to provide water, grease and stain resistance in textiles, yet their impact on human health and the environment is severe. These chemicals have been linked to a range of health issues, including thyroid dysfunction, impaired fertility and developmental problems in children. Particularly alarming is the fact that many of the jackets tested were intended for children, a group that is more vulnerable to the harmful effects of toxic substances.

One of the most commonly found PFAS in this study was PFOA, a chemical that has been banned globally due to its high toxicity. Despite this ban, PFOA was detected in 17 jackets, while another chemical, PFDA, which is also under regulatory scrutiny, was found in an equal number of samples.

Environmental Impact
The environmental implications of PFAS contamination are long-lasting. PFAS are released into the environment during production, use and disposal, where they accumulate and persist for decades. Alarmingly, very few jackets and other PFAS-treated textiles are recycled, leading to widespread environmental contamination through landfill leachates and incineration emissions.

Even when PFAS-treated clothing is incinerated, toxic by-products are released, contributing to the pollution of air and water. Additionally, PFAS-treated clothing disposed off in landfills can leach these harmful chemicals into surrounding ecosystems, causing further environmental damage.

Safer Alternatives Exist
Despite the widespread use of PFAS in clothing, the study also identified 21 jackets that were free from these harmful chemicals, including products from well-known brands like North Face and Black Diamond. These companies have committed to phasing out PFAS from their products, demonstrating that safer, effective alternatives to PFAS exist.

The study calls for a universal ban on the entire class of PFAS chemicals, emphasizing that incremental regulation of individual chemicals is insufficient. Instead, a global ban, similar to those already implemented for specific PFAS, should be adopted to protect human health and the environment.

Urgent Recommendations
To curb the widespread use of PFAS in textiles, the report makes several key recommendations. It urges national governments to ban the use of PFAS in clothing and other consumer products, promote the development of PFAS-free alternatives and improve transparency in product labeling. It also calls for stricter enforcement of existing regulations and the clean-up of contaminated environments.

The report highlights the urgent need for global cooperation to eliminate PFAS from textiles and other products. Only through a universal ban can the world stop the release of these “forever chemicals” into the environment and protect future generations from their harmful effects.