Old Navy Women's Strapless Belted One-Piece Swimsuit
Typical swimwear with likely water-repellent coating treatment; no public disclosure available.
Old Navy swimsuits typically feature polyester/nylon with water-repellent coating finishes common in swimwear, often historically PFAS-based. Gap Inc. does not publicly disclose PFAS content or treatment specifics.
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 finish
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.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Water-repellent coating finishes on synthetic swimwear commonly use PFAS chemistry; Gap does not disclose treatment type, so assume legacy PFAS unless stated otherwise. Migration into water or skin is low in typical use, but accumulation over product lifetime and disposal pathways remain concerns.
Source, ATSDR ↗Azo dyes
Synthetic swimwear dyes are often azo-based. If non-compliant dyes are used, certain azo compounds can break down to release aromatic amines under UV or biological conditions, though this is rare in certified textiles. Old Navy does not publish dye certifications for this product.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Some polyester and nylon finishes (including certain water-repellent coating systems and color-lock resins) historically used formaldehyde as a cross-linker. Modern products have largely shifted away, but older chemistry may still be in use. Off-gassing is typically minimal after initial wash cycles.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastics
Polyester/nylon swimwear can shed microfibers during washing, particularly if the surface coating degrades or pilling occurs. This is not a direct consumer health hazard but an environmental persistence issue. Washing in a microfiber catch bag mitigates this.
Source, EPA ↗Coating degradation and leachables
As the water-repellent coating breaks down with chlorine, UV, and heat exposure over 1-2 years, the underlying resin system may leach residual unreacted monomers or hardeners into water or sweat, though at very low concentrations in normal use. No specific recalls or adverse reports exist for Old Navy swimwear.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This swimsuit is a polyester/nylon blend, the industry standard for chlorine resistance and durability in swimwear. The water-repellent coating (water-repellent coating) finish applied to the surface is what creates the water-shedding effect. water-repellent coating treatments on swimwear are typically applied via chemical coating, and many brands still rely on PFAS-based formulations for performance, though some have switched to PFAS-free alternatives. The polyester fiber itself does not inherently leach hazardous substances; nylon similarly is stable in typical use. The dyes used in synthetic swimwear are generally low-risk if standards-compliant, though azo dyes remain unregulated in some jurisdictions.
The brand's record and disclosure
Gap Inc. has not made public commitments to eliminating PFAS from water-repellent coating treatments in swimwear or published third-party test results for PFAS content in specific products. The company has faced criticism for opacity on chemical use in textiles but has not issued recalls related to swimwear toxicology. Gap does not list PFAS or water-repellent coating chemistry on product tags or websites. This silence makes it impossible to confirm whether this swimsuit uses legacy PFAS or newer PFAS-free chemistry without direct manufacturer contact or independent testing.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream swimwear brands (Speedo, Arena, TYR) use similar polyester/nylon blends with water-repellent coating finishes and face the same PFAS disclosure gap. Brands like Patagonia and some smaller swim labels have explicitly switched to PFAS-free water-repellent coating, but Old Navy competes in the value segment where cost pressures often correlate with older chemistry. In terms of fiber safety, Old Navy's polyester is comparable to competitors; the differentiator is transparency, where Old Navy lags behind premium or sustainability-focused alternatives.
If you buy it
Rinse thoroughly in fresh water after every use to remove chlorine, salt, and skin oils, which can degrade the water-repellent coating finish and potentially increase leaching from the coating. Avoid hot water washing; use cool water and gentle cycle. Do not bleach or use harsh detergents, which break down the water-repellent coating layer. Replace the swimsuit every 1-2 years with regular use, as the fabric itself degrades (elasticity loss, pilling) and the water-repellent coating finish wears off, reducing protective function. If PFAS avoidance is a priority, contact Gap customer service to request PFAS-free confirmation before purchase, or choose a brand with explicit PFAS-free claims.
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
- Old Navy has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Swimwear
Patagonia
Women's Bottom Turn Racerback Bikini Top
Nylon/polyester blend with elastane (standard swimwear)
Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
J.Crew
Women's Squareneck One-piece
Nylon/spandex blend swimwear
Undisclosed water-resistant treatment chemicals
Limited concern
Spandex/elastane degradation and microfiber shedding
Limited concern
Chlorine and saltwater interaction with treated fabric
Limited concern
Lower concern. Untreated swimwear fabric, but J.Crew makes no PFAS promises.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
Speedo
Women's Eco Solid Adult Super Pro Swimsuit
Polyester/nylon blend (standard swimsuit fabric)
Microplastic shedding from synthetic fiber
Limited concern
Lower concern, typical swimwear without known water-repellent treatment, though Speedo has not disclosed PFAS avoidance.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
More 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.