All 30 swimwear we scored fail our PFAS screen
We scored 30 swimwear for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.
100% of the 30 swimwear we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
The safest PFAS-free swimwear we have scored
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
The swimwear we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.
Speedo
Women's Aquablade Recordbreaker One-Piece Swimsuit
Polyester blend with water-repellent coating treatment (likely Teflon-family coating-based)
PFAS
High concern
Antimony catalyst in polyester
Limited concern
Elastane/spandex degradation over time
Moderate concern
Coating degradation and leachables
Limited concern
Moderate PFAS risk from likely water-repellent coating; contact Speedo before buying.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Speedo
Women's Endurance+ Medalist Swimsuit
Polyester with water-repellent coating finish
PFAS
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding during use and laundering
Limited concern
No PFAS disclosure on water-repellent coating treatment; many rival brands now disclose.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Speedo
Women's Moderate Ultraback PowerFLEX One Piece Swimsuit
Polyester/nylon blend with water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish
PFAS
Limited concern
Antimony in polyester fibers
Limited concern
Microplastic shedding from fiber breakdown
Limited concern
Avoid unless Speedo confirms PFAS-free water-repellent coating treatment.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
What we check on swimwear
- Confirmed PFAS, PTFE or fluoropolymer content, which is the heaviest penalty we apply.
- Stain, water or grease resistant treatments, which usually mean fluorinated chemistry.
- Whether the brand discloses what is in the product, or stays silent behind a “clean” claim.
- Independent lab results and certifications where they exist.
Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.
The swimwear brands that will not say
7 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.
Aerie, Athleta, Lands' End, Patagonia, Rip Curl, Speedo, Summersalt.
Common questions about PFAS-free swimwear
Is swimwear PFAS free?
Mostly not. Of the 30 swimwear we have scored, 100% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 0 that pass. The lowest is Speedo Speedo Women's Aquablade Recordbreaker One-Piece Swimsuit at 20.
Which swimwear should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Speedo Speedo Women's Aquablade Recordbreaker One-Piece Swimsuit at 20, Speedo Speedo Women's Endurance+ Medalist Swimsuit at 20, Speedo Speedo Women's Moderate Ultraback PowerFLEX One Piece Swimsuit at 20. The problem with the first is that moderate PFAS risk from likely DWR coating; contact Speedo before buying.
Which swimwear brands will not say whether they use PFAS?
7 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Aerie, Athleta, Lands' End, Patagonia, Rip Curl, Speedo. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test swimwear?
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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Does a particular brand of swimwear have PFAS?
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