Vitamin A Women's Rossi Halter Underwire Top
Lower PFAS concern for basic nylon/spandex top without water-repellent treatment.
This nylon and spandex halter top uses common textiles that carry lower PFAS risk than treated performance apparel. Vitamin A doesn't disclose PFAS practices or claim PFAS-free status.
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
nylon/spandex blend with underwire support
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Vitamin A Women's Rossi Halter Underwire is made of, ingredients and materials
This top is a nylon and spandex blend, a common construction in modern swimwear that provides stretch, durability, and shape retention. Nylon itself is a thermoplastic polymer with no inherent toxicity at body-contact temperatures; spandex (polyurethane elastomer) is similarly inert and widely used in intimates and activewear. The underwire is typically stainless steel or nickel-plated steel, which poses minimal leaching risk in wet environments if properly coated. No chemical finishes (water repellent, antimicrobial, or flame retardant) are typical for basic swimwear tops, reducing processing chemical residue.
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.
Nickel leaching from underwire
If the underwire is nickel-plated rather than stainless steel, prolonged contact with skin and moisture can trigger dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Vitamin A does not disclose wire composition; stainless steel is standard but not guaranteed. Leaching risk is low in short-term use but increases with coating wear over years.
Spandex degradation and microfiber shedding
Nylon and spandex fibers shed microplastics with wear, especially when exposed to UV, chlorine, heat, or abrasive washing. This is inherent to the material, not brand-specific, but improper care accelerates it. Microfiber shedding is a known concern in all synthetic swimwear; replacement cycles under 2 years increase cumulative shedding.
Heavy metals
Nylon and spandex readily accept synthetic azo dyes, which are restricted but not eliminated globally. Vitamin A does not certify dye sourcing or disclose heavy metal testing in pigments. Risk is present but typical for the price and brand tier; certified alternatives (OEKO-TEX) exist but are not offered here.
Source, FDA ↗Elastic/seam adhesive degradation
Swimwear seams and leg elastic often use solvent-based or water-based adhesives that can off-gas or break down under repeated wet/dry cycles. This can lead to separation or comfort loss rather than direct toxicity, but degraded adhesives may contain residual volatile compounds. Vitamin A does not disclose adhesive type; standard practice in the category does not mandate low-VOC adhesives.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Basic swimwear tops typically do not receive formaldehyde-releasing wrinkle-resist or antimicrobial treatments. Vitamin A does not advertise such finishes, and this product category rarely uses them. No reports of formaldehyde hazards in this brand or product line.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Vitamin A is a swimwear-focused brand with limited public disclosure of material sourcing or chemical testing beyond PFAS grading. No major recalls, chemical controversies, or certifications (GOTS, OEKO-TEX, bluesign) are on record for this brand. The silent PFAS stance is consistent with many smaller swimwear makers but does not indicate problematic practices; it reflects typical industry transparency gaps rather than documented concern. Pricing and design positioning suggest mainstream manufacturing standards.
How it compares in its category
Nylon/spandex blends are the industry standard for wired swimsuit tops and rank low-risk for chemical hazards compared to alternatives. Some competitors use recycled nylon or offer bluesign certification; Vitamin A does not advertise these, placing it mid-tier in transparency. Underwired tops across brands carry similar metal-contact and wear-degradation risks; this product is representative rather than distinctive. Category-wide, swimwear is lower-hazard than street apparel because it lacks dyes, flame retardants, and finishes needed for durability in non-aquatic use.
If you buy it
Rinse thoroughly in fresh water after saltwater or chlorine exposure to prevent salt/chlorine buildup that can accelerate spandex breakdown and underwire corrosion. Hand wash in cool water with mild detergent; avoid hot water, bleach, and fabric softener, which degrade elasticity and coating integrity. Air dry flat or on a hanger; never machine wash or dry. Replace after 1-2 years of regular use or if underwire begins to poke through, spandex loses snap, or seams separate.
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
- Vitamin A 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)
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Elastane (spandex) degradation under heat or chlorine
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.