Billabong Women's Tanlines Bound Sloane Hawaii One-Piece Swimsuit
Moderate concern; swimwear water-repellent coating finishes often use PFAS, Billabong discloses nothing.
This polyester/nylon one-piece gets water-repellent treatment for water-shedding and durability, typically involving fluorinated compounds across the apparel industry. Billabong provides no disclosure on PFAS or alternatives.
The better-graded swap
Patagonia
Patagonia Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top
90/100 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
Polyester/nylon blend with water-repellent coating treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Billabong Women's Tanlines Bound Sloane is made of, ingredients and materials
This suit is a polyester/nylon blend, standard for chlorine-resistant swimwear. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the fabric is where concern arises, these finishes historically relied on long-chain PFOA or PFOS, though the industry has shifted toward shorter-chain alternatives since regulatory restrictions. Polyester itself is stable when worn; the risk is in the chemical treatment applied to achieve water beading and quick-dry performance.
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water-repellent treatment on polyester swimwear frequently uses PFAS compounds. Billabong has not disclosed chemistry or tested alternatives. Migration into water during swimming is minimal under normal conditions, but bioaccumulation is a long-term environmental concern.
Source, ATSDR ↗water-repellent coating finish degradation and microplastic shedding
As the water-repellent coating wears, microscopic particles may shed during washing or use. This is not unique to Billabong but inherent to treated polyester swimwear. Quantity is small relative to microplastics from synthetic textiles broadly.
What’s reassuring
Azo dyes in polyester
No specific recalls or warnings on record for Billabong swimwear. Polyester dyeing can use azo colorants; regulated suppliers exclude carcinogenic amines, but confirmation requires third-party testing Billabong does not advertise.
Antimony in polyester fibers
Polyester production sometimes involves antimony as a catalyst. Leaching risk from swimwear is extremely low under normal wear; no established health pathway from wearing polyester garments.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Water-repellent coating finishes may contain formaldehyde-releasing resins in older processes. No public health incident or recall tied to Billabong swimwear; modern finishes have largely phased this, but brand silence prevents confirmation for this specific product.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Billabong (owned by Boardriders, Inc.) has not publicly disclosed PFAS testing, phase-out timelines, or certification to PFAS-free standards. The brand does not appear on ZDHC or Textile Exchange verified supplier lists for restricted substance disclosure. This silence is notable in an industry where competitors (e.g., some under Quiksilver) have begun labeling PFAS status. Absence of disclosure suggests either reliance on conventional water-repellent coating chemistry or reluctance to detail supply chain management.
How it compares in its category
Most mass-market polyester swimwear uses similar water-repellent coating finishes with undisclosed PFAS status. Premium brands (Patagonia, Girlfriend Collective) explicitly test and label PFAS-free alternatives; budget brands rarely disclose. Billabong sits in the mid-market gap where performance and price take precedence over transparency. Nylon/polyester blends with water repellency are functionally superior to uncoated alternatives, but that durability comes at the chemical cost.
If you buy it
Wash in cool water before first wear to reduce loose finish particles. Avoid hot water, which can degrade the water-repellent coating and potentially increase leaching (though risk is low in typical use). Replace when the water-repellent coating stops beading water (typically 1-2 years with normal use), rather than continuing to wear it until thread failure. Store dry; mildew in stored fabric can harbor bacterial biofilm unrelated to the suit itself.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Billabong has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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Find an alternative on AmazonMore swimwear 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.