Durable water repellency (DWR) coatings on waterproof jackets, hiking boots, tents, ski gear, and performance sportswear are almost universally applied using per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These "forever chemicals" give fabrics their beading, water-shedding properties but shed PFAS compounds through washing, abrasion, and wear — contaminating laundry water, waterways, and the wearer's skin. Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who wear and wash waterproof gear intensively are among the highest non-occupational PFAS-exposed groups from this specific route.
Where it's found
Waterproof and water-resistant jackets, trousers, and softshells from outdoor and sports clothing brands. Hiking boots and trail running shoes with waterproof membranes. Ski and snowboard clothing. Tents and rucksacks with DWR treatment. Swimming costumes and triathlon suits treated for water repellency. Performance sportswear with moisture-management treatments. Gore-Tex and similar membrane technologies use PFAS in the membrane itself, not just the surface treatment. PFAS contamination of swimming pool water near areas with high outdoor gear use has been documented in some studies.
Routes of exposure
Dermal absorption during wear — PFAS in DWR coatings migrate to the skin surface, particularly when the fabric is warm and damp against the body during exercise. Ingestion via hand-to-mouth transfer after handling treated clothing. Washing release — PFAS shed from waterproof clothing during laundering enter wastewater and persist in the aquatic environment. Environmental contamination near outdoor clothing manufacturing and treatment facilities. PFAS accumulate progressively in body tissues with a half-life of years for longer-chain compounds — cumulative lifetime exposure from all routes determines body burden.
Health concerns
PFAS are endocrine disruptors with well-documented effects on thyroid function, immune function, reproductive outcomes, and lipid metabolism. PFOA (a historically common PFAS in DWR) is classified by IARC as a Group 1 carcinogen (kidney and testicular cancer). The sportswear route is one element of total PFAS exposure — dietary exposure from food packaging and cookware typically dominates, but frequent intensive outdoor gear users add a meaningful dermal and ingestion contribution. Washing performance clothing without a laundry filter releases PFAS directly into wastewater treatment systems that cannot remove them.
Evidence
PFAS toxicology and carcinogenicity (for PFOA and PFOS specifically) are well established — see the main PFAS profile. The specific contribution of sportswear DWR coatings to human PFAS body burden is less precisely characterised than dietary or drinking water routes. Analytical detection of PFAS shedding from DWR fabrics during washing is confirmed. Dermal absorption from fabric PFAS is plausible but quantified exposure via this route specifically is limited. The overall evidence for PFAS harm is strong; the proportional contribution of sportswear is the uncertainty.
Who's most at risk
Athletes and outdoor enthusiasts who wear waterproof gear intensively and wash it frequently have the highest sportswear-related PFAS exposure. People who wash outdoor clothing frequently without wastewater filtration contribute to environmental PFAS loading. Children wearing waterproof school uniforms, raincoats, and footwear with DWR treatment have daily dermal contact.
Regulatory status
RegulationPFAS in DWR coatings on textiles are subject to the EU broad PFAS restriction under REACH, proposed in 2023 with transition periods for specific textile uses. Long-chain PFAS (C8+) including PFOA and PFOS are already banned in the EU. Many brands have transitioned to shorter-chain PFAS (C6) alternatives — still PFAS, with less bioaccumulation but not risk-free. Some brands now offer PFAS-free DWR using silicone, wax, or biobased alternatives. The UK is tracking EU PFAS restriction developments.
How to reduce your exposure
Choose outdoor and sportswear brands that explicitly offer PFAS-free DWR alternatives — these are increasingly available from major brands including Paramo, Fjallraven, and several Gore-Tex replacement fabrics. Wash waterproof clothing less frequently and at lower temperatures to reduce PFAS shedding. Use a Guppyfriend bag or similar laundry filter to capture shed particles during washing. Reproofing DWR treatment after washing using PFAS-free reproofing products maintains water repellency without adding further PFAS.
The nutrition connection
PFAS in outdoor sportswear intersects the Nutriofia themes of endocrine disruption and thyroid health in a population — regular exercisers — who are otherwise engaged in health-promoting behaviour. The irony of performance sportswear chemistry potentially undermining the health benefits of the sport it enables is not lost on users committed to both fitness and reduced chemical exposure. Supporting the transition to PFAS-free DWR by choosing certified alternatives rewards manufacturers investing in safer chemistry, and for dedicated outdoor athletes, the cumulative reduction in PFAS body burden from sportswear and cookware combined is meaningful over a lifetime of active sport.