Hi, my name is Layla, and I’m an 8th grader. Over the past year, I’ve been learning about PFAS, also called “forever chemicals,” and I was surprised to learn that they may be present in drinking water that students and kids use every day.

What are PFAS?

PFAS, also called “forever chemicals,” can be found in everyday products — including some clothing and textiles used by kids, families, and schools.

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a large group of man-made chemicals that have been used in products to resist water, stains, grease, and heat. They are called “forever chemicals” because, unlike many other chemicals that eventually break down, PFAS break down very slowly and are extremely hard to get rid of.

That is what makes them especially concerning.

PFAS can stay in the environment for a very long time. They can move through water, soil, food, and everyday products. Some PFAS can also build up in our bodies over time.

Why Clothing and Textiles Matter
Clothing is something we wear directly on our bodies every day.

Kids wear school uniforms, athletic clothes, jackets, raincoats, leggings, backpacks, sports gear, and other textiles for hours at a time. Many families do not realize that PFAS can be used in clothing and textiles to make them water-resistant, stain-resistant, grease-resistant, or easier to clean.

That means families may be buying clothing without knowing whether it contains forever chemicals.

PFAS exposure has been linked to health concerns, including:

• Hormone disruption
• Immune system effects
• Developmental concerns
• Higher cholesterol
• Reproductive health concerns
• Liver effects
• Increased risk of certain cancers

This is especially concerning for kids and teens because our bodies are still growing and developing.  Because PFAS don't break down easily, they can build up in our bodies over time.

California Made Progress, But Families Still Need More Transparency
California passed AB 1817, a law that restricts PFAS in many new clothing and textile products sold in the state.

This was an important step. But families still need more transparency.

Right now, most shoppers still cannot easily look at a clothing tag or online product page and know:

• Whether the item was tested for PFAS
• Whether it contains PFAS
• Whether it was treated to be stain-resistant or water-resistant
• Whether a “PFAS-free” claim has been verified
• Whether an imported product truly follows California’s rules
• California’s law requires manufacturers to provide certificates of compliance to sellers, but regular families do not usually see those certificates when they are shopping.

That means the law may exist, but the information is still not clear enough for consumers.

There Is No Clear National PFAS Clothing Label
Right now, the United States does not have one simple national label that tells families whether clothing contains PFAS.

Federal clothing labels usually tell shoppers things like fiber content, country of origin, and the manufacturer or importer.

But they do not clearly tell families whether a clothing item contains PFAS.

That means a parent might know where a jacket was made, but still not know whether it contains forever chemicals.

That needs to change.

Imported Clothing Should Not Be a Loophole
A lot of clothing sold in the United States is imported from other countries.

Imported clothing sold in California should still follow California’s PFAS textile law. But imported products can be harder for families to understand because the supply chain may include overseas factories, fabric treatments, chemical finishes, online marketplaces, and third-party sellers.

Families should not have to wonder whether imported clothing follows the same safety standards.

Any clothing sold in California — whether it is made here, made in another state, or imported from another country — should meet the same PFAS safety and transparency standards.

Online marketplaces should also be responsible for making sure products sold on their platforms follow the law.

Why Labels Can Be Confusing
Many clothing and textile products are advertised with words like: Nontoxic, Clean, or Eco-friendly

But these words can be confusing.

A product can sound safe or environmentally friendly without clearly saying whether it contains PFAS.

If a company says a product is PFAS-free, families should be able to know how that claim was verified.

If a product contains PFAS, that should be clearly disclosed.

If a product was tested, the results should be easy to find.

We Are Asking Lawmakers, Retailers, Brands, and Online Marketplaces To:

• Strengthen enforcement of PFAS restrictions in clothing and textiles
• Require clearer labeling when clothing or textiles contain PFAS
• Create a clear national PFAS disclosure standard for clothing and textiles
• Require brands to prove PFAS-free claims
• Make PFAS testing and compliance information easier for consumers to find
• Require stronger oversight of imported clothing and online marketplace products
• Improve transparency for school uniforms, athletic wear, children’s clothing, rain gear, outdoor clothing, backpacks, and textiles
• Stop confusing or misleading marketing claims
• Require sellers to confirm that products comply with PFAS laws before selling them
• Encourage retailers to sell more verified PFAS-free options
• Help protect kids, families, workers, and the environment from unnecessary PFAS exposure

Families should not have to be scientists to know what is in their clothing. We should not have to guess whether products labeled “safe,” “clean,” or “eco-friendly” are actually PFAS-free.

Students should not have to wonder if their uniforms, jackets, backpacks, or athletic clothes contain forever chemicals.

This petition will also be used to help draft letters to lawmakers at the state and national level, as well as retailers, clothing companies, online marketplaces, school leaders, and public agencies. These letters will ask for stronger transparency, clearer labeling, better testing, stronger enforcement, and truly PFAS-free clothing and textiles for kids and families.

Please sign this petition to support stronger accountability, clearer labels, and safer clothing and textiles for kids and families.

For more information on PFAS and what you can do to protect yourself, please visit PFASFREEPROJECT.com.