PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” show up in a surprisingly wide range of everyday products. These synthetic compounds resist water, oil, and heat, which makes them useful in manufacturing but also means they persist in the environment and in your body for years. You’ll find them in food packaging, clothing, cookware, cosmetics, and dozens of other items you likely use regularly.
Food Packaging and Wrappers
Grease-resistant food packaging has been one of the most common sources of PFAS exposure for years. The chemicals were applied to fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers, and pet food bags to prevent oil and grease from soaking through. Burger wrappers, french fry containers, muffin cups, cardboard coffee cups, and baking paper have all tested positive for various PFAS compounds.
Testing has found PFAS in some unexpected places too. Paper-based straws, bamboo straws, and even glass straws have shown detectable levels. Paper food trays used for items like mochi have measured among the highest concentrations of any food contact material, reaching over 600 nanograms per gram in some samples.
The good news: the FDA announced that PFAS-based grease-proofing agents are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the U.S. That said, older stock may still be in circulation, and imported products may not follow the same rules.
Non-Stick Cookware
Non-stick pans and pots are coated with fluoropolymers, the best known being PTFE (the material behind the Teflon brand name). PTFE is itself a PFAS compound, and while the finished coating on modern pans is considered stable at normal cooking temperatures, overheating can cause it to break down and release harmful fumes.
Some cookware brands market their products as “PFAS-free,” but many don’t disclose what replacement chemicals they use instead. The Green Science Policy Institute maintains a list of verified PFAS-free cookware for consumers who want to avoid these chemicals entirely. Alternatives include cast iron, stainless steel, and ceramic-coated pans.
Waterproof and Stain-Resistant Clothing
Outdoor jackets, rain gear, hiking pants, and ski wear typically use durable water-repellent (DWR) coatings made from fluorinated polymers. These coatings are what makes water bead up and roll off fabric. The same chemistry appears in workwear designed for firefighters and emergency medical workers, where oil and water resistance is critical.
PFAS concentrations in textiles vary enormously. Baby clothing has tested at relatively low levels (around 2 nanograms per gram), while school uniforms, hats, stroller covers, and swimsuits have ranged from 0.25 to 153,000 nanograms per gram. Firefighter gear falls in the range of 2 to 850 parts per billion. Waterproof textiles generally test higher than non-treated fabrics, and flame-retardant textiles show elevated levels as well.
Stain-resistant carpets and rugs are another common source. Testing has found measurable levels of PFAS in carpet fibers treated to repel spills.
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
PFAS appear in a variety of cosmetics because they help products spread smoothly, resist water, and last longer on the skin. The FDA reports that common PFAS ingredients in cosmetics include PTFE (the same compound used in non-stick pans) along with several other fluorinated compounds used as skin-conditioning agents and texture enhancers. You’ll find them in foundations, mascaras, eyeliners, lip products, and other items where a smooth, long-lasting finish is the selling point.
If you want to check your own products, look for ingredients that include “fluoro” or “perfluoro” in the name. PTFE is the easiest to spot on a label.
Dental Floss
Certain types of dental floss contain PFAS. Oral-B Glide floss, for example, is made from 100% PTFE rather than simply being coated with it. But the issue isn’t limited to one brand. Researchers have found detectable fluorine levels in multiple dental floss products, including both PTFE-based and non-PTFE varieties, suggesting that some flosses use PFAS-based coatings even when they aren’t made entirely from fluoropolymers. Waxed nylon or silk floss from brands that don’t use fluorinated coatings is an alternative.
Hygiene Products and Face Masks
PFAS have been detected in sanitary napkins, sanitary pads, diapers, and menstrual cups, though generally at low concentrations (under 15 nanograms per gram for most products). Face masks, particularly disposable ones, have tested at much higher levels, ranging from 15 to 2,900 micrograms per square meter.
Anti-fogging sprays and cloths (the kind used for glasses or goggles) stand out as some of the most concentrated consumer sources of PFAS. Anti-fogging sprays have measured up to 25,000 micrograms per milliliter, and anti-fogging cloths up to 185,000 micrograms per gram.
Firefighting Foam
Aqueous film-forming foam, known as AFFF, is a PFAS-based foam used to suppress flammable liquid fires. It’s been widely used at military bases, civilian airports, oil refineries, chemical plants, and fire training facilities. AFFF is one of the largest sources of PFAS contamination in groundwater and drinking water supplies. Numerous public and private water systems near airports and military fire training sites have been impacted. The push to replace AFFF with fluorine-free alternatives is ongoing, but decades of use have already left a legacy of contamination.
How PFAS Reach Drinking Water
All these products eventually contribute to PFAS in the water supply, whether through manufacturing runoff, landfill leaching, or firefighting foam seeping into groundwater. In 2024, the EPA set the first legally enforceable limits for PFAS in drinking water. The maximum allowable level for the two most studied compounds (PFOA and PFOS) is 4 parts per trillion, an extremely low threshold that reflects how potent even tiny exposures can be. Four other PFAS compounds or mixtures are also regulated, with limits of 10 parts per trillion each.
Can You Trust “PFAS-Free” Labels?
Not always. A study that tested children’s products carrying well-known eco-certifications, including Oeko-Tex 100, Greenguard Gold, GOTS, and Bluesign, found that these labels did not consistently indicate the absence of PFAS. Among products marketed as water- or stain-resistant, PFAS detection rates were similar whether or not the product carried a green certification. This means a label alone isn’t a reliable way to avoid these chemicals.
Your best strategy is to reduce exposure where you can. Choose uncoated stainless steel or cast iron cookware. Look for outdoor gear from brands that have publicly committed to eliminating PFAS from their DWR coatings. Avoid cosmetics with “fluoro” or “PTFE” in the ingredients. And when it comes to food packaging, the shift away from PFAS-treated materials is already underway in the U.S., though checking for grease-resistant coatings on imported or unlabeled packaging is still worth doing.