• The consumer health site Mamavation conducted testing that revealed the presence of PFAS in several well-known yoga pants brands.
• PFAS are industrial substances that persist in the body and environment and are associated with health hazards like cancer.
• Although there may not be much risk from short-term exposure to PFAS in garments, there may be concerns over time.
More than just fashion, risks could be involved when buying a pair of leggings. Just how much risk is unclear, but toxic chemicals have been found in hundreds of consumer products and clothing bought off the racks nationwide.
Thousands of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have existed since the first fabric treatments were invented in the 1940s to prevent stains and sticking. PFAS chemicals are used in non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing and firefighting foam.
Their manufacture and persistence in products have contaminated drinking water nationwide. Also known as “forever chemicals”, these substances do not break down in the environment and can accumulate in our bodies over time. They are linked to health risks like kidney and testicular cancers.
Some popular brands of yoga pants and gym leggings may contain measurable amounts of substances linked to cancer and other health risks, according to testing done by consumer health activist blog Mamavation.
The blog’s author, eco-influencer and social media strategist, Leah Segedie, said she sent 32 pairs of activewear from various brands to an EPA-certified laboratory to check for a class of industrial chemicals, PFAS.
Mamavation’s specific testing results have yet to be replicated in a published study. However, this isn’t the first time chemicals linked to cancer have appeared in clothing.
According to David Andrews, senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, an advocacy and research organisation specialising in toxins and corporate accountability, any amount of PFAs in clothing should be avoided wherever possible.
PFAS in clothing aren’t regulated, and exposure through the skin is considered low-level, but the long-term health consequences are unclear.
LulaRoe, Lululemon, and Old Navy were among the brands that tested positive for PFAS.
Various chemicals are included in PFAS; researchers frequently screen for them by looking for a particular component termed fluorine. Mamavation particularly requested a lab test to look for fluorine in the crotch region of the clothing.
A pair of Lululemon trousers with a fluorine content of 32 parts per million was among the items shown to have measurable levels of fluorine. Fluorine tests on another Lululemon product came out negative. A pair of LuLaRoe leggings had the highest fluorine content, 284 parts per million.
Additionally, fluorine was found in goods from Gap, Inc.-owned Athleta and Old Navy (17 parts per million each). The Mamavation website has the complete list available. Environmental Health News evaluated the article and contributed funding to its creation.
“It’s unclear how risky PFAS in clothing might be for health, but even small amounts should be avoided when possible”, Andrews told Insider.
“It’s tough to avoid compound exposure completely”, he said. “Unnecessary exposure through clothing adds to the burden of exposure through numerous sources.”
According to the EPA, low-level exposures, including in the household and through clothing, may accumulate and cause potential health issues.
PFAS can appear in various products, from cosmetics to bottled water. According to research, the riskiest exposure comes from ingesting the chemicals through contaminated food or water or inhaling them in the air.
PFAS in manufactured clothing may not pose a direct risk to the wearer, Joe Schwarcz, director of the McGill University Office for Science and Society, wrote in an article for the McGill. But they can contribute to the chemicals leaching into the environment. Bloomberg reported that scientists have recommended phasing out PFAS to reduce the risk of ongoing contamination.
Although the full health risks of wearing togs alleged to be toxic are still unknown, the potential implications are wide-reaching.
So, where does that leave consumers? Community-level blood testing is underway in areas with known PFAS exposure, but individuals can also seek it out by asking their doctors.
