Recent reports scrutinizing Lululemon’s use of certain chemicals has pushed a familiar environmental health issue back into the fitness wardrobe conversation. Are workout clothes PFAS safe? These are a large group of synthetic chemicals used to make materials repel water, oil, and stains.
Researchers have found associations of these “forever chemicals” with a lot of different health effects: Kidney and testicular cancers and different thyroid disruptions. In children it’s been associated with decreased vaccine response and low birth weight. It takes a really long time to leave our bodies. A lot of chemicals we’re exposed to leave within a matter of a few hours or a few days. With PFAS, it takes several years.
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KEN PAXTON LAUNCHES LULULEMON PROBE
The Texas AG is investigating the activewear brand for potentially putting toxic chemicals in its garments.
The company claims it stopped adding PFAS to its clothing over two years ago.
Officials say customers were kept in the dark about the… pic.twitter.com/mvAzTAXSjw
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Your gym fit might have a chemistry problem
The Washington Post reported that the concern has intensified as activewear has become everyday clothing for many people. PFAS are widespread in homes, clothing, and, as a result, even human bodies.
Most chemicals that enter your body get broken down. Your liver processes them, your kidneys flush them out, and they’re gone. PFAS don’t work that way. The bond between their carbon and fluorine atoms is one of the strongest bonds in all of chemistry. Almost nothing in nature can break it. So when PFAS enter your body, they just… stay.
They build up in your blood, liver, and kidneys over time. Scientists call this “bioaccumulation,” basically a slow, invisible pile-up.
PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they are designed to resist breakdown and can persist for years in the environment.
They have been found in soil, food, and drinking water and are also used in some apparel, particularly clothing marketed as water-resistant, stain-resistant, or oil-resistant.
Brown’s School of Public Health says, due to these properties, the chemicals have been linked in studies to health effects, including thyroid disruption, certain cancers, low birth weight, and reduced vaccine response.
Non-stick pans are one of the most pervasive household sources of “forever chemicals”
They get the name because the compounds behind them (PFAS) can stay in the body for years and have been linked to endocrine disruption, immune dysfunction, and certain cancers
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How to shop smart and keep the toxins out
The labels usually do not reveal whether a garment contains PFAS, but water-, stain-, or oil-resistant descriptions can be a clue. Experts suggest looking for PFAS-free products, considering secondhand clothing and washing new items multiple times.
The American states of California and New York have moved to phase out PFAS in apparel and other consumer goods. Major brands are following suit. Ralph Lauren, American Eagle, and Patagonia have all committed to eliminating PFAS from their supply chains. Consumers can help by choosing certified PFAS-free clothing. Avoid non-stick cookware if possible, and use a water filter certified to remove PFAS.
Fear isn’t quite the right word—awareness is better.
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