Can PFAS and flame retardants transfer from children's textiles through sweat?
Yes. Sweat amplifies the transfer of PFAS and flame retardants from children's clothing and bedding into their skin.
What's actually in it
Children's pajamas, uniforms, sportswear, and bedding are often treated with flame retardants and PFAS coatings for stain and water resistance. These chemicals sit on the fabric surface. When a child sweats, the moisture creates a pathway for the chemicals to dissolve off the fabric and absorb through the skin.
Kids are active. They run, play, and sleep in these textiles for hours. Sweat production is constant, and so is the chemical transfer.
What the research says
A 2025 study in Sci Total Environ tested how sweat amplifies the dermal transfer of PFAS and organophosphate ester flame retardants from children's textiles. Simulated sweat dramatically increased the amount of chemicals pulled from the fabric compared to dry contact.
The study also tested the combined toxicity of the PFAS and flame retardant mixtures at the levels that transfer through sweat. The mixture showed toxic effects on cells, confirming that the amounts reaching children's skin are biologically relevant, not just detectable.
Children's skin is thinner and more permeable than adult skin, so they absorb a higher percentage of what touches them. Choosing untreated cotton for pajamas and bedding, and washing new clothes several times before wearing, both help reduce this type of exposure.
The research at a glance
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