Professional Reel Spooling - PowerPro 50# Green
Lower concern, braided polyethylene typically PFAS-free, but brand lacks confirmation.
PowerPro braided polyethylene is inherently lower PFAS risk compared to coated products. No PFAS additives are commonly used in basic polyethylene fishing line.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Braided polyethylene fishing line
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.
Microplastic shedding during normal use
Braided polyethylene can shed microscopic PE fibers when cut, frayed, or abraded against rocks and rod guides. This shedding is not a direct consumer health hazard but contributes to aquatic microplastic accumulation if line is lost or discarded in water. The rate and quantity from a single reel are negligible compared to industrial and consumer plastic waste streams.
UV degradation byproducts
Extended outdoor storage or use of PowerPro 50# line in sunlight can cause photooxidative breakdown of polyethylene, generating carbonyls and other volatile compounds. This is a durability issue rather than an acute toxicity risk; degraded line simply fails mechanically and should be replaced.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
Fishing line colorants are not regulated for heavy metal content by the FDA or EPA. No testing data for PowerPro 50# Green is publicly available, but green colorants in polyethylene rope and cordage typically use organic azo dyes or iron oxide, not historically linked to toxicity during normal use as a non-contact item.
Source, FDA ↗Processing chemical residues (spinning oils, antistatic agents)
Braided polyethylene manufacturing typically involves mineral oils and slip agents to aid extrusion and braiding. No data confirms residue levels in PowerPro products; any residual oils would wash off with handling or remain inert on the line surface since the line never contacts skin, mouth, or food.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
PowerPro 50# Green is braided polyethylene, a synthetic polymer constructed by weaving multiple strands of PE together rather than extruding a single filament. Braided PE has no established leaching pathways for toxic substances during normal use as a fishing line, since it never contacts food or drinking water and remains stable at ambient temperatures. The green color is achieved through colorant additives, but polyethylene itself is chemically inert once cured and does not break down into microplastics during normal fishing use, unlike some degradation scenarios in marine environments over years.
The brand's record and disclosure
PowerPro has published no independent safety certifications, third-party testing results, or transparency statements regarding PFAS, heavy metals, or other processing chemicals in their fishing line products. The brand's silence on PFAS is typical for the fishing line industry, where such disclosures are uncommon and not legally mandated. No recalls, contamination incidents, or safety controversies involving PowerPro braided line are on public record. The absence of disclosure does not confirm safety but reflects standard industry practice for this category.
How it compares in its category
Braided polyethylene lines (PowerPro, Spiderwire, Sufix, etc.) are chemically simpler than monofilament nylon alternatives, which can leach trace additives under UV exposure over extended storage. Braided PE avoids the thermal stability concerns of nylon and does not require UV stabilizers to the same degree. As a non-fluorocarbon braided line, PowerPro 50# avoids PFAS Teflon-family coating coatings used in some premium competitors, positioning it in the lower-PFAS segment of the market.
If you buy it
Store the spool indoors and out of direct sunlight to slow UV degradation, which can embrittle polyethylene over months or years of exposure. Replace the line annually or when you notice visible fraying, color fading, or loss of casting distance, as braided PE does not fully degrade in the field but loses strength over time. Wash your hands after extended handling to remove any residual colorant dust. Discard used line responsibly in trash rather than cutting and releasing it into waterways, as it will not biodegrade.
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
- PowerPro has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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.