Rapala · Fishing Tackle & Gear
Rapala Countdown Elite
Lure with no known PFAS treatment, lower concern for use.
This plastic lure with standard hooks and split rings lacks water-resistant or food-contact coatings. Unlikely PFAS vector for recreational fishing use.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Plastic body, metal hooks and split rings
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.
Paint or enamel coating degradation and microplastic shedding
Fishing lures are painted for visibility and durability. Long-term UV exposure, water immersion, and mechanical abrasion from rocks or teeth can degrade the paint layer; however, the amount shed per lure over its useful life is negligible and poses no documented health risk in aquatic environments.
Metal corrosion and nickel leaching
Hooks and split rings are typically stainless steel or nickel-plated. In saltwater or acidic freshwater, minor corrosion can occur; nickel release from plating is theoretically possible but remains in the water rather than concentrating in fish tissue and is below regulatory concern for recreational fishing scenarios.
Plastic body brittleness and breakage
Polycarbonate or ABS plastic bodies can become brittle over years of UV exposure and temperature cycling, eventually cracking or splintering. Fragments ingested by fish are inert and pass through the digestive tract; no toxicological concern, but aesthetic and functional degradation occurs.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Lead
No recalls or testing data exist for lead in Rapala lure paints. Modern fishing-lure manufacturers have largely phased out lead-based pigments, but Rapala does not publicly certify paint formulations. Risk is low for adult anglers; minimal for children given brief and infrequent hand contact.
Source, ATSDR ↗Formaldehyde / VOCs
Fishing lures are not typically treated with formaldehyde resins or require off-gassing monitoring. Any residual monomers from injection molding are minimal and do not accumulate in water during use. No established hazard on record for this product type.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Countdown Elite uses a plastic body (likely polycarbonate or ABS resin) with stainless steel or nickel-plated hooks and split rings. This material combination is intentional for fishing lures, the plastic must be rigid, lightweight, and colorfast under water and UV exposure, while metal components must resist corrosion in freshwater and saltwater. Plastic bodies in fishing lures are not designed to leach into water under normal use because they remain intact and are not heated or abraded during casting and retrieval.
The brand's record and disclosure
Rapala, a Finnish fishing-equipment company owned by Normark Group, does not publicly disclose detailed material composition or third-party chemical certifications for its lures. The brand has no established history of chemical safety controversies or recalls related to hazardous substances in lures. Rapala focuses marketing on performance and durability rather than safety transparency, which is typical for the fishing-tackle industry.
How it compares in its category
Fishing lures as a category carry minimal chemical risk compared to cookware, food-storage containers, or apparel because they do not contact skin, mouth, or food. The Countdown Elite is a standard hard-plastic crankbait with no specialty coatings, paint additives, or flame-retardant treatments. It is comparable to most branded fishing lures in material safety profile; budget alternatives may use lower-grade plastics prone to brittleness or paint flaking, but chemical hazard differences are negligible.
If you buy it
Rinse the lure after each use in saltwater to prevent corrosion of metal components and extend the life of enameled finishes. Store in a dry, cool place away from direct sunlight to slow UV degradation of the plastic body. Inspect hooks and split rings before each outing; replace if bent, dull, or corroded. The plastic body does not require special maintenance and poses no ingestion risk if accidentally swallowed by a fish; standard catch-and-release or consumption safety practices apply.
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
- Rapala has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
More fishing tackle & gear 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.