Berkley FireLine · Fishing Line
Berkley FireLine Original Fishing Line
Skip, Teflon-family coating raises PFAS concern.
FireLine uses braided Dyneema polyethylene with a Teflon-family coating for durability and slickness. The brand discloses no PFAS data, and Teflon-family coating coatings often contain PFAS.
The better-graded swap
Cortland
Cortland Fairplay Monofilament Fishing Line
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Dyneema polyethylene with Teflon-family coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Berkley FireLine Original Fishing Line is made of, ingredients and materials
FireLine Original uses Dyneema, a ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber core, which is inherently chemically inert and does not leach plastic additives into water. The Teflon-family coating applied to the fiber is designed to reduce friction and improve handling. Teflon-family coating by definition contain fluorine bonds; the specific formulation and whether it includes PFOA-class PFAS compounds is not publicly disclosed by Berkley. This coating is the primary unknown factor in the product's safety profile.
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.
Fluoropolymer detected
A Teflon-family coating is recorded for this product.
PFAS
The Teflon-family coating applied to FireLine is not identified as free of PFOA or PFAS in public materials. Modern Teflon-family coating often use shorter-chain compounds, but Berkley has not disclosed the specific chemistry. Potential for trace leaching into water or hand-to-mouth transfer is not ruled out.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microfiber shedding from coating degradation
Dyneema with applied coatings can shed fibers if abraded, UV-damaged, or aged. These microfibers are not biodegradable and could accumulate in aquatic environments or gut of fish. No health risk to user, but environmental concern if line breaks or degrades in water.
What’s reassuring
Thermal instability of polyethylene core
UHMWPE (Dyneema) itself is stable up to ~80-85°C; no reports of toxic off-gassing or decomposition at normal fishing conditions. Risk only if line is stored in extreme heat (car trunk in summer, near heat source) or reused after fire exposure.
Heavy metals
No recalls or published testing data indicate lead, cadmium, or azo dye hazards in FireLine. Fishing line coatings are typically simple Teflon-family coating or wax without pigments, making heavy metal contamination unlikely.
Source, FDA ↗Allergen or irritant contact from line handling
No formaldehyde or volatile organic compounds are inherent to Dyneema or standard Teflon-family coating coatings. Hand irritation from handling is not documented; line shows lower concern for skin contact with bare hands.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Jarden/Newell Brands) has not published detailed material safety data sheets or PFAS transparency statements for fishing line products. The company does not market FireLine as PFAS-free or low-PFAS. No recalls specific to chemical leaching from FireLine have been publicly recorded. Absence of disclosure does not indicate safety, but reflects limited third-party testing and industry-standard opacity around coating chemistry in fishing tackle.
How it compares in its category
Most braided fishing lines use some form of Teflon-family coating or wax coating for performance; FireLine is typical in this respect. Monofilament nylon alternatives avoid Teflon-family coating coatings but absorb water and degrade faster. Fully uncoated Dyneema lines exist but are rare and less user-friendly. FireLine's popularity reflects its durability and casting properties, not safety certification; the coating trade-off is standard across premium braided lines.
If you buy it
Store line away from direct sunlight and heat, as polyethylene can degrade and potentially shed microfibers if UV-damaged. Do not expose to temperatures above 80-85°C (176-185°F), as the Teflon-family coating may soften. Replace line annually or after visible wear, fraying, or loss of surface smoothness. Dispose of used line responsibly (not in water or landfill if possible); Teflon-family coating-coated synthetics are slow to biodegrade.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 68% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Berkley FireLine has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Berkley FireLine Original Fishing Line?
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic shedding during use
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Microplastic fragmentation
- Monofilament nylon fishing line
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- UV degradation and polymer brittleness
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More fishing line 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.