Your leggings are supposed to help you feel good — not quietly expose you to chemicals linked to cancer and infertility. But that’s exactly what a growing body of research suggests has been happening for years. And now, the activewear industry is facing a reckoning.
In April 2026, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched a formal investigation into Lululemon, one of the world’s most popular athleisure brands, over the potential presence of PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals” — in its products. But what exactly are PFAS, why are they in yoga pants, and should you be worried?
Let’s break it down.
What Are PFAS and Why Are They in Your Activewear?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These are a family of over 9,000 synthetic chemicals that have been manufactured since the 1940s for their water-resistant, grease-proof, and stain-repellent properties. You’ve probably encountered them without knowing it — they’re in nonstick cookware, food packaging, waterproof jackets, and yes, yoga pants.
In athletic clothing, PFAS are typically applied to create moisture-wicking, sweat-resistant, and stain-repellent finishes. It’s the reason your $100 leggings look brand new after a brutal spin class. But that convenience comes at a cost your body might be paying.
The reason scientists call them “forever chemicals” isn’t dramatic — it’s literal. PFAS don’t break down naturally in the environment or in the human body. Once they’re in you, they can linger for months or even years.
The Lululemon Controversy: What’s Actually Going On?
A 2021 investigation by Mamavation and EHN.org tested 32 pairs of popular leggings and yoga pants. The results? About one in four had detectable levels of fluorine — a strong indicator of PFAS contamination. Lululemon’s activewear pants specifically showed 32 parts per million of fluorine in testing conducted from the crotch area of the garments.
That detail matters. These aren’t chemicals sitting on your jacket sleeve. They’re pressed against some of the most absorbent and sensitive areas of your body, often during intense exercise when your pores are wide open and you’re sweating heavily.
Fast forward to 2026, and the scrutiny has only intensified. Attorney General Paxton’s investigation is examining whether Lululemon’s marketing as a “wellness-focused lifestyle brand” misleads consumers about what’s actually in the clothing.
For its part, Lululemon says it phased out intentional PFAS use in fiscal year 2023 and currently requires vendors to test for restricted substances through third-party agencies. But the investigation will dig into whether those claims hold up under supply chain review.
Can PFAS in Clothing Actually Get Into Your Body?
Here’s where things get alarming. For years, the prevailing assumption was that human skin acts as a reliable barrier against PFAS. Recent research has shattered that belief.
A 2024 study from the University of Birmingham, the most comprehensive assessment of its kind, tested 17 commonly used PFAS on 3D models of lab-grown human skin tissue. Of those 17 chemicals, 15 showed substantial dermal absorption — meaning they passed through the skin.
For one shorter-chain compound (perfluoropentanoic acid), nearly 59% of the applied dose was absorbed. Even for the heavily regulated PFOA, about 13.5% made it through, with an additional 38% retained within the skin itself — essentially sitting there like a reservoir, ready to enter the bloodstream later.
And it gets worse when you factor in sweat. A 2025 study published in Science of the Total Environment found that sweat dramatically amplified chemical migration from textiles into the skin — up to 3,252-fold for PFAS compared to dry contact.
Think about what happens when you’re wearing tight-fitting leggings during a hot yoga session or a long run. The conditions for maximum PFAS absorption are essentially built into the workout.
Children are even more vulnerable. Their skin barrier isn’t fully developed, making them more susceptible to absorbing these chemicals from treated clothing like school uniforms and kids’ activewear.
PFAS Health Risks: What the Science Says
So what happens once these chemicals enter your body? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to certain PFAS has been linked to a troubling list of health effects.
These include increased risk of kidney, testicular, and prostate cancers, reduced immune response (including weaker vaccine effectiveness), hormone disruption, elevated cholesterol, reproductive issues such as decreased fertility and pregnancy-induced hypertension, and developmental delays in children, including low birth weight and accelerated puberty.
The endocrine disruption angle is particularly relevant to anyone wearing PFAS-treated activewear. PFAS mimic fatty acids in the body and can interfere directly with hormone systems. The Endocrine Society identifies PFAS as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and research from the National Cancer Institute notes that their estrogenic properties may contribute to the development of hormone-related cancers like breast, thyroid, and prostate cancer.
The Fertility Connection
One of the most striking studies came from researchers at Mount Sinai’s Icahn School of Medicine, who found that PFAS exposure could reduce fertility in women by up to 40%. The study, published in Science of the Total Environment in 2023, tracked over 1,000 women of childbearing age who were trying to conceive. Women with higher blood concentrations of PFAS had significantly lower chances of becoming pregnant and carrying to a live birth.
What makes this finding so concerning in the context of yoga pants is where the PFAS are concentrated: the crotch area. And PFAS don’t just affect the person wearing the clothing. Research has detected these chemicals in cord blood, placental tissue, and breast milk — meaning exposure can transfer directly from mother to child.
A large-scale review of NHANES data from the University of Michigan, USC, and UCSF found that exposure to certain PFAS doubled the odds of a prior cancer diagnosis in women.
What’s Being Done About It?
Regulators are starting to catch up. California became the first U.S. state to ban PFAS in textiles and apparel with the Safer Clothes and Textiles Act, effective January 1, 2025. The law prohibits the manufacture, distribution, and sale of clothing with more than 100 ppm of total organic fluorine. That threshold drops to 50 ppm by 2027. New York and Colorado have passed similar legislation.
But state-level bans are a patchwork. There’s no federal prohibition on PFAS in clothing in the United States, and enforcement mechanisms in many states won’t kick in for years. In California, for example, formal enforcement doesn’t begin until 2030.
Meanwhile, class action lawsuits and consumer awareness campaigns are putting increasing pressure on brands. Several athletic wear companies, including Patagonia, L.L. Bean, and Eddie Bauer, have pledged to phase out PFAS from their products.
How to Protect Yourself
You don’t have to quit exercising (please don’t). But you can take some practical steps to reduce your exposure to PFAS in activewear. Look for brands that have been independently tested and certified PFAS-free — organizations like Mamavation regularly publish test results.
Wash new workout clothes before wearing them, as this can reduce some surface-level chemical residue. Avoid products explicitly marketed as “stain-resistant” or “water-repellent” unless they specify PFAS-free treatments. And if you’re trying to conceive or are pregnant, consider being extra cautious about what fabrics you’re wearing close to your skin for extended periods.
FAQs
Do all yoga pants contain PFAS?
No. Testing has shown that not all activewear contains these chemicals. A 2021 Mamavation investigation found that roughly one in four popular leggings tested had detectable fluorine levels. Many brands have begun phasing PFAS out entirely, and several have been independently verified as PFAS-free.
Has Lululemon stopped using PFAS?
Lululemon says it phased out intentional PFAS use in fiscal year 2023 and that these chemicals were only ever used in a small percentage of its water-repellent products. However, the Texas Attorney General’s investigation is examining whether the company’s claims align with its actual supply chain practices and testing protocols.
Can PFAS be absorbed through the skin from clothing?
Yes. A landmark 2024 University of Birmingham study confirmed that most tested PFAS can pass through human skin. Absorption increases significantly during sweating and exercise, and shorter-chain PFAS compounds are absorbed more easily than longer-chain varieties.
What health problems are linked to PFAS exposure?
The EPA has linked PFAS exposure to increased cancer risk (kidney, testicular, prostate), reduced immune function, hormone disruption, elevated cholesterol, decreased fertility, and developmental delays in children, including low birth weight and behavioral changes.
Are there laws banning PFAS in clothing?
Yes. California and New York banned PFAS in apparel starting January 1, 2025. Colorado has enacted similar restrictions, and Maine has a broader ban taking effect in 2030. However, there’s no federal ban on PFAS in clothing in the United States.