All 8 scrubs we scored fail our PFAS screen
All 8 scrubs PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026.
Every grade below is built from published materials, ingredient lists, certifications and brand disclosures, scored on one public rubric and ranked best-graded first. Each score links to the full breakdown of what earned it, and the numbers across the whole dataset are published too.
Are scrubs non-toxic?
None of the 8 scrubs we graded clear our screen. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on scrubs in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, heavy metals, formaldehyde.
Why Aramark Uniform Work Shirt Employee Short grades highest here, and why that is not a pass
Every grade on this page is one sum. A category starts from a baseline, each disclosed material or coating adds risk points, and each thing the brand or a third party has published takes them away. Below is that sum for the winner, then for 1 product it beats, so you can see exactly where the 45 points between the top and the bottom of this scrubs ranking come from. Nothing in this category reaches our 70 point pass mark, so this is the shape of the field rather than a recommendation.
Top graded, and still below our pass mark
Made of cotton/polyester blend, no noted treatment.
- +30Category baseline. The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
- +15No PFAS disclosure. No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
- -10Base material not linked to PFAS. The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
35risk points in total, which is a grade of 65
What the grade does not fix. It still carries one risk factor, No PFAS disclosure, and our graders recorded 2 other hazards on it. See the full breakdown.
What it still grades above, and why
What puts it behind. Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment, +35 points. Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS. The top-graded product carries no such factor.
Made of Cotton blend with Scotchgard stain/water treatment.
- +35Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
- +30Category baseline
- +15No PFAS disclosure
80risk points, a grade of 20
No product on this page was physically tested by us. Every number above comes from published materials, ingredient and coating disclosures, certifications and brand statements, scored on one public rubric. Formulations change without notice, so check the current product listing before buying.
What to watch for in scrubs
Beyond the PFAS grade, these are the things our graders recorded on the 8 scrubs in this category. We assess from materials, brand statements and published research. We do not lab-test.
- Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
Found on 1 of these scrubs. Plausible but unconfirmed on 3 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
Found on 1 of these scrubs. Plausible but unconfirmed on 1 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. EPA
- Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 6 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. FDA
- Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. ATSDR
- Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
Plausible but unconfirmed on 4 more, meaning nobody has ruled it out. NCI
The safest scrubs we graded, lowest PFAS risk first
Nothing in this category clears our buy threshold yet. That is the finding, not a gap.
See PFAS-free scrubs on AmazonThe scrubs we would skip
Lowest scoring in this category, worst first, with the reason.
- 20Blue Generation Scotchgard Embroidered Short Sleeve Dress ShirtBad
Formaldehyde / VOCs
- 65Aramark Uniform Work Shirt Employee Short Sleeve White Snap Button UpGood
Antimony in polyester
- 65Good
What we check on scrubs
- 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 scrubs brands we found no PFAS statement from
We found no PFAS statement from 2 of the brands here. That is our research, not proof a brand has never said anything, and it is not evidence of harm. It is why none of them score well on disclosure.
Aramark, Uniform Advantage.
The brands that have published something, and what each of them actually said, are in our record of what every brand has said about PFAS.
Common questions about PFAS in scrubs
Are scrubs PFAS free?
All 8 scrubs PFAS Authority has graded score below its 70 point pass mark for PFAS and other toxins, as of October 2026. The lowest graded is Blue Generation Scotchgard Embroidered Short Sleeve Dress Shirt at 20 out of 100.
Are scrubs non-toxic?
None of the 8 scrubs we graded clear our screen. Non-toxic is not a defined or regulated term, so what we can tell you is what our graders recorded. Beyond PFAS, the hazards found or left unruled-out on scrubs in this category are microplastics, VOCs and off-gassing, artificial dyes, heavy metals, formaldehyde.
Which scrubs should I avoid?
The three lowest scoring we hold are Blue Generation Scotchgard Embroidered Short Sleeve Dress Shirt at 20, Aramark Uniform Work Shirt Employee Short Sleeve White Snap Button Up at 65, Aramark Men’s 2xl Aramark Flexfit Uniform Work Shirt Blue at 65. The problem with the first is that scotchgard treatment likely contains PFAS. Seek untreated alternative.
How can you tell if scrubs 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 scrubs brands have not published a PFAS statement?
We found no PFAS statement from 2 of the brands we scored in this category, including Aramark, Uniform Advantage. That is what our research turned up, not proof a brand has never said anything, and a missing statement is not evidence of harm. It is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.
Do you lab test scrubs?
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.
More clothing and outdoor categories we have graded
Same rubric, same scale. These are the categories closest to scrubs.
- Best non-toxic outdoor furniture cushion protectants357 graded
- Best non-toxic tents323 graded
- Best non-toxic ski jackets217 graded
- Best non-toxic ski wax210 graded
- Best non-toxic stain-resistant jeans15 graded
- Best non-toxic backpacks15 graded
- Best non-toxic fishing gear15 graded
- Best non-toxic hiking pants15 graded
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