Stren Original Monofilament Fishing Line, Clear/Blue Fluorescent, 17 lb Test Strength, 1000 yd
Minimal concern. Nylon monofilament typically avoids PFAS; verify with manufacturer.
Standard nylon fishing line carries lower PFAS risk than coated or fluorescent-treated products. No brand disclosure available.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
Nylon monofilament 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.
Nylon degradation and microplastic shedding
Aged or UV-damaged monofilament can fragment into microplastics, particularly under mechanical stress (casting, snagging). This is an environmental concern when line is lost or discarded in water, not an acute health hazard to the user, but relevant to aquatic ecosystems.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
UV stabilizer residues
Modern nylon monofilament typically uses non-toxic UV absorbers (benzotriazole or hydroxyphenyl benzotriazole class), but Stren does not disclose which stabilizer package is used in Original formulation. No documented contamination reports exist for this product line.
Residual monomer or oligomer leaching
Nylon extrusion can leave trace unreacted caprolactam (nylon 6 monomer) in the finished product. Under normal fishing conditions (cool freshwater or saltwater), leaching into water is negligible. No data suggests this occurs at levels of concern for this specific product.
Heavy metals
The fluorescent blue dye in this line is a standard organic colorant class. No cadmium, lead, or other heavy-metal pigments are known to be used in modern monofilament dyes, and no safety alerts have been issued for Stren coloring systems.
Source, FDA ↗Thermal stability during use
Nylon monofilament does not reach degradation temperature (melting point ~220°C) during normal fishing. Heat from friction (high-speed reels, direct sun on the spool) is not sufficient to trigger fume release or off-gassing under real-world conditions.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Stren Original is extruded nylon monofilament, a single-strand thermoplastic polymer. Nylon monofilament does not require the water-repellency coatings (Teflon-type coating, Teflon-family coating) that trigger PFAS concerns in some fishing lines, nor does it rely on heavy-metal UV stabilizers typical of older formulations. The material is chemically inert once cured and does not leach into water under normal fishing use.
The brand's record and disclosure
Stren (owned by Pure Fishing/Newell Brands) does not publicly disclose detailed material composition or third-party safety certifications for this monofilament line. No recalls, regulatory actions, or documented safety complaints specific to Stren Original monofilament are on public record. The manufacturer has not responded to inquiries about PFAS content in marketing materials, leaving this a data gap rather than a confirmed absence.
How it compares in its category
Standard nylon monofilament fishing lines (Stren, Berkley, Cabela's house brands) occupy the baseline safety tier in the fishing-line market. Fluorocarbon lines and specialty coated monofilaments carry slightly higher chemical complexity and disclosure uncertainty. Braided lines introduce microfiber shedding concerns. Stren Original's simple nylon construction is among the most chemically straightforward options available.
If you buy it
Store spools in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight, as UV exposure degrades nylon over time and may release trace volatile organic compounds. Replace line annually or after heavy use, as degraded monofilament becomes brittle and loses strength. Avoid storing near heat sources or solvents. Dispose of used line properly (not in waterways); nylon is not biodegradable and persists as microplastic debris.
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
- Stren 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.