Every chemical we check for

PFAS is what this site is named for and it is not the only thing worth knowing about. Every product we grade is screened against the hazards below, and each one has its own page showing what it is, how many products we flagged, which categories are worst and what to buy instead.

Flagged is not measured. Reported and likely mean real evidence, a published ingredient, a test result or a recall. Possible means the material or the category makes it credible and nobody has ruled it out. Several of these come back with hundreds plausible and none confirmed, and their pages say so rather than implying otherwise.

Undisclosed fragrance
A single word on a label that can stand for dozens of undeclared ingredients, protected as trade secret.
1,254 products flagged across 62 categories, 114 on real evidence
PFAS
A family of thousands of fluorinated chemicals used to make things resist water, grease and stains.
1,202 products flagged across 94 categories, 458 on real evidence
Microplastics
Plastic fragments small enough to shed from a product into food, water or air without anyone seeing it.
1,119 products flagged across 100 categories, 285 on real evidence
VOCs and off-gassing
Volatile compounds that evaporate out of a material at room temperature, which is what a new product smell is.
1,104 products flagged across 95 categories, 116 on real evidence
Undisclosed ingredients
Not a chemical. The absence of one, where a brand will not say what it uses.
792 products flagged across 96 categories, 270 on real evidence
Formaldehyde
A preservative and resin ingredient that is also released slowly by a group of chemicals used in its place.
483 products flagged across 65 categories, 7 on real evidence
Artificial dyes
Synthetic colours added to food, cosmetics and textiles, most of them petroleum derived.
432 products flagged across 72 categories, 9 on real evidence
Aluminium leaching
Aluminium migrating out of cookware, bakeware or an antiperspirant into food or skin.
407 products flagged across 23 categories, 30 on real evidence
Heavy metals
Metals such as antimony, nickel and chromium migrating from a material into what touches it.
368 products flagged across 74 categories, 11 on real evidence
1,4-dioxane
A contaminant created during manufacturing rather than added, so it never appears on an ingredient list.
319 products flagged across 20 categories, 1 on real evidence
Talc
A soft mineral used to absorb moisture and improve texture, mined alongside asbestos.
99 products flagged across 13 categories, 1 on real evidence
Lead
A metal still found in glazes, solder, paint, imported ceramics and some older cookware.
65 products flagged across 28 categories, none confirmed
Flame retardants
Chemicals added to foam, fabric and electronics to slow ignition.
57 products flagged across 12 categories, 15 on real evidence
Phthalates
Plasticisers that keep vinyl soft and make a scent linger, usually undeclared.
57 products flagged across 25 categories, 1 on real evidence
Parabens
A family of preservatives that stop mould and bacteria growing in anything containing water.
50 products flagged across 15 categories, none confirmed
BPA and bisphenols
Chemicals that harden plastic and line metal cans, and the replacements sold as BPA-free.
41 products flagged across 21 categories, none confirmed
Pesticide residue
What remains on or in a crop after treatment, and in the textiles made from it.
34 products flagged across 15 categories, 1 on real evidence
Endocrine disruptors
Any chemical that interferes with the hormone system, rather than one specific substance.
21 products flagged across 5 categories, 7 on real evidence

Looking for a product rather than a chemical? Browse the full PFAS-free products list, or see which brands are PFAS-free.