All 80 school uniforms we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 80 school uniforms for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them best-graded first. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
100% of the 80 school uniforms we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The best-scoring school uniforms for PFAS risk
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The school uniforms we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
L.L.Bean
Kids' L.L.Bean Multisport Joggers
polyester/cotton blend with water-repellent coating finish
Antimony in polyester
Limited concern
PFAS
High concern
Azo dyes or non-substantive dyes
Limited concern
Degradation of water-repellent coating over washing
Moderate concern
No PFAS disclosure. Joggers likely treated with water-repellent coating, source unknown.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
School Apparel
The Children's Place Girls Uniform Quick Dry Skort
polyester blend with quick-dry treatment
water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) coating chemistry
High concern
Azo dyes in colored polyester
Limited concern
Antimony residue in polyester
Limited concern
Heat-induced off-gassing from finish coatings
Limited concern
Skip until treatment details disclosed; quick-dry suggests water-repellent coating.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Nautica
Boys Short Sleeve Performance Polo
polyester blend with water-repellent coating finish
PFAS
Limited concern
Performance polo likely uses water-repellent coating treatment; PFAS risk unclear, brand silent.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on school uniforms
- Formaldehyde / VOCs. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. ATSDR
- Endocrine disruptors. Chemicals that interfere with the body’s hormone system. NIEHS
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The school uniforms brands that will not say
21 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.
, Amazon, Bienzle, Cintas, Dennis Uniform, Dickies, Dockers, French Toast, Gap Kids, Izod, JCPenney, Kaynee.
Common questions about PFAS in school uniforms
Is school uniforms PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 80 school uniforms we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is L.L.Bean Kids' L.L.Bean Multisport Joggers at 20.
Which school uniforms should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are L.L.Bean Kids' L.L.Bean Multisport Joggers at 20, School Apparel The Children's Place Girls Uniform Quick Dry Skort at 20, Nautica Boys Short Sleeve Performance Polo at 20. The problem with the first is that no PFAS disclosure. Joggers likely treated with DWR, source unknown.
How can you tell if school uniforms contain PFAS?
In this category we check for formaldehyde / vocs, endocrine disruptors. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.
Which school uniforms brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
21 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including , Amazon, Bienzle, Cintas, Dennis Uniform, Dickies. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test school uniforms?
No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.
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We also wrote this up at length. PFAS in School Uniforms, Which Brands Grade Best and Worst
Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 80 school uniforms.