Trilene Review, Is Trilene Non-Toxic?
Across 5 graded products, Trilene averages Poor (49/100). On disclosure, the brand says nothing publicly about PFAS. 1 of its products grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates, not lab results.
PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Grades are model-based, built from published ingredients, materials, certifications, brand disclosures and third-party lab results where they exist. See the rubric.
Worth buying from Trilene Good or better, best-graded first
Trilene
Berkley Trilene XT Solar Monofilament Service Spool
Nylon monofilament fishing line
Nylon degradation and microplastic shedding
UV exposure and mechanical wear can cause nylon monofilament to fragment into…
Standard nylon fishing line with no documented PFAS risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
Graded and flagged Poor and Bad, we’d swap these
Trilene
Fishing Line Xt 12lb Green Low Visibility
Monofilament nylon (coated, unspecified treatment)
PFAS
Low-visibility monofilament coatings commonly use Teflon-family coating or fluorinated…
Microplastic shedding during use and storage
Monofilament nylon sheds microparticles as the coating abrades against guides, knots, and…
Coating degradation and leaching
All surface coatings on monofilament degrade under UV and mechanical stress. Without…
UV absorber or dye additives (unspecified)
Green-dyed or low-visibility lines often contain azo dyes or aromatic UV absorbers to…
Skip unless coating composition is verified with manufacturer.
⚠Undisclosed proprietary coating
Trilene
Berkley Trilene Big Game, Clear, 50lb
Monofilament nylon fishing line with fluorescent coating
Fluorescent coating composition (unconfirmed additives)
The fluorescent brightener applied to this product is not publicly specified by Berkley.…
Microplastic shedding during use
Monofilament degrades slowly in aquatic environments, shedding microfibers over months to…
Fluorescent coating raises concern; manufacturer silent on PFAS use.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Trilene
Berkley Trilene Big Game 1/4 lb. Fishing Line
monofilament nylon with undisclosed water-resistant coating
PFAS
The proprietary coating on Trilene Big Game is undisclosed. Historical precedent and…
Physical entanglement and wildlife harm
Discarded or lost fishing line poses mechanical hazard to wildlife (birds, fish, marine…
Microplastic shedding from degraded line
Over years of UV exposure and water contact, monofilament can fragment into…
Contact Berkley about coating transparency before purchasing.
⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment
Trilene
Berkley Trilene Big Game Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon monofilament fishing line
PFAS
Fluorocarbon monofilament is manufactured from PFAS-class chemicals (fluorinated…
Microfiber shedding and ingestion risk
All monofilament lines shed microfibers, but fluorocarbon's superior durability may…
Environmental persistence
Fluorocarbon does not biodegrade on human timescales and remains in sediments and aquatic…
Chemical leaching in storage or use
While monofilament is inert during normal fishing use, microfiber fragmentation and…
Skip, fluorocarbon line likely contains PFAS.
⚠Fluoropolymer coating
Trilene and PFAS, common questions
- Does Trilene have PFAS?
- We graded 5 Trilene products, averaging Poor (49/100). 1 grade Good or better. Grades are model-based estimates built from published materials, ingredients and disclosures, not lab tests.
- Is Trilene non-toxic?
- Berkley Trilene XT Solar Monofilament Service Spool is the highest-graded Trilene product we have scored, at 85/100. It depends on the product line rather than the brand, so check the grade of the exact item you are buying.
- Which Trilene products are lower concern for PFAS?
- The highest-graded Trilene products we have scored are Berkley Trilene XT Solar Monofilament Service Spool. That is our model-based estimate from materials and public disclosure, not a lab test.
- Which Trilene products should I avoid?
- The lowest-graded Trilene products we have scored are Berkley Trilene Big Game Fluorocarbon, Berkley Trilene Big Game 1/4 lb. Fishing Line, Berkley Trilene Big Game, Clear, 50lb. Each one links to the evidence behind its grade.
Every grade uses the same public rubric. How grades work →