Anker · Waterproof Personal Electronics Cases
Anker 6-ft Black Cable one_size
Low risk. Standard USB charging cable without high-risk coatings.
Anker cables use typical PVC or TPE jackets without known PFAS treatment. Electronics cables are generally lower risk than treated apparel.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
PVC or TPE cable jacket, copper wire
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Phthalate plasticizers in PVC jacket
If the cable uses PVC (not TPE), it likely contains phthalates for flexibility. These are not a concern during normal use of a charging cable, as phthalates do not migrate into skin or food. Risk is primarily environmental post-disposal.
Jacket degradation and copper wire exposure
PVC and TPE jackets degrade over 2-5 years with heat, UV, or mechanical stress. Cracked jacket can expose copper wire and create electrical shock hazard if contacted during charging. This is a use-related rather than manufacturing hazard.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Microplastics
No evidence that Anker cables shed microplastics during normal use. Shedding would only occur if the jacket is heavily abraded or degraded; standard use does not trigger this.
Source, EPA ↗Lead
Anker cables meet FCC and UL standards, which prohibit lead solder in new products sold in regulated markets. Copper is inherently lead-free. No testing or recalls suggest contamination in this product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗Voltage leakage or insulation breakdown
This is a low-voltage (5V typical USB) charging cable. No documented failures or insulation defects in Anker 6-ft cables. Risk is negligible under normal use and storage.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This cable uses either PVC (polyvinyl chloride) or TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) as the outer jacket, with copper wire conductors inside. PVC is rigid and cheaper but requires plasticizers like phthalates to soften; TPE is more flexible without those additives and is increasingly preferred by manufacturers. Both are stable at room temperature and do not leach into food or skin under normal use. Copper is an inert conductor with no toxicity concern in this application.
The brand's record and disclosure
Anker is a major electronics accessories manufacturer with established quality control and UL/FCC certifications for their charging products. The company does not publicly detail material composition or PFAS avoidance policies on charging cables, which is typical for this product category. No recalls or safety incidents tied to this specific cable model are on record. Anker's overall reputation is solid for reliability rather than transparency on chemical content.
How it compares in its category
USB charging cables are a mature commodity category with minimal differentiation on safety grounds. Anker cables are mid-market, cheaper than Apple or premium brands, similar spec to store-label alternatives, and generally built to standard durability. TPE-jacketed cables (if this uses them) have lower concern than PVC ones because they avoid phthalate plasticizers, though both types meet baseline safety standards. No major cable brand has established a safety or chemical-disclosure advantage in this segment.
If you buy it
Store at room temperature away from direct sunlight to slow aging of the jacket. Replace the cable if the outer covering tears, cracks, or becomes sticky (sign of plasticizer breakdown), as exposed wire creates shock risk. Do not coil tightly around chargers or devices while powered, as localized heat can degrade the jacket. Six-foot length reduces the need to bend or stress the cable during use, which extends its lifespan.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Anker has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More waterproof personal electronics cases grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.