ToxicThreads.
By the numbers
Research project PFAS · Fashion · Health

Forever chemicals,
woven in.

Our clothes are made with chemicals designed never to break down. Toxic Threads follows them from the factory, into the fabric, and onto the bodies.

Understand the issue → Our research →
Hands lowering a length of cloth into a steaming dye vat, magenta and gold pigment blooming through the fabric.

The issue in 30 seconds

PFAS — "forever chemicals" — are used to make clothing repel water, stains, and grease. They barely break down, so they build up in our water, our soil, and our bodies. The exposure is quiet and constant, and it falls hardest on the people least able to avoid it.

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The scale of the problem

Fashion by the numbers

0.58kg

of chemicals go into every kilogram of fabric made1

1truck

of clothing is burned or landfilled every second11

215trillion L

of water the fashion industry uses every year1213

500ktonnes

of plastic microfibers wash into the ocean every year11

300million

people work across the fashion supply chain12

6%

of the 250 biggest brands publicly commit to phasing out hazardous chemicals14

What we study

Our research

All research →
Consumer awareness

What people know they're wearing

A survey of how much consumers understand about the chemicals in their clothing, and what would change how they shop.

 Garment testing

Measuring PFAS in apparel

Laboratory testing of everyday garments to see which chemicals are present, and at what levels.

 Biolegalities & policy

Who is accountable

How law and regulation assign — or avoid — responsibility for chemical harm across the fashion supply chain.

Latest from the project

Featured writing

All writing & talks →
Essay · CASTAC / Platypus

Underneath It All: the toxic reality of fast-fashion underwear and the social dimension of health

Pratyusha Kiran · November 2024 · Read on Platypus →

Water beading on a treated performance fabric.

Get involved

Follow the work as it unfolds.

Toxic Threads is an active research project. Whether you want to collaborate, follow the work, or just understand what's in your closet, start here.

Read the issue → Get in touch

Sources

  1. UN Environment Programme. (2022). Textile-producing nations unite to reduce chemical waste [Press release]. unep.org
  2. Green America. (2019). Toxic Textiles: The chemicals in our clothing. greenamerica.org
  3. Glüge, J., Scheringer, M., Cousins, I. T., DeWitt, J. C., Goldenman, G., Herzke, D., Lohmann, R., Ng, C. A., Trier, X., & Wang, Z. (2020). An overview of the uses of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 22(12), 2345–2373. doi.org/10.1039/D0EM00291G
  4. Schellenberger, S., Hill, P. J., Levenstam, O., Gillgard, P., Cousins, I. T., Taylor, M., & Blackburn, R. S. (2019). Highly fluorinated chemicals in functional textiles can be replaced by re-evaluating liquid repellency and end-user requirements. Journal of Cleaner Production, 217, 134–143. doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.01.160
  5. Cohen, N. J., Yao, M., Midya, V., et al. (2023). Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and women's fertility outcomes in a Singaporean population-based preconception cohort. Science of the Total Environment, 873, 162267. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162267
  6. Karwacka, A., Zamkowska, D., Radwan, M., & Jurewicz, J. (2019). Exposure to modern, widespread environmental endocrine disrupting chemicals and their effect on the reproductive potential of women. Human Fertility, 22(1), 2–25. doi.org/10.1080/14647273.2017.1358828
  7. Qu, R., Wang, J., Li, X., Zhang, Y., Yin, T., & Yang, P. (2024). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) affect female reproductive health: Epidemiological evidence and underlying mechanisms. Toxics, 12(9), 678. doi.org/10.3390/toxics12090678
  8. International Labour Organization. (2021). Exposure to hazardous chemicals at work and resulting health impacts: A global review. ilo.org
  9. Iadaresta, F., Manniello, M. D., Östman, C., Crescenzi, C., Holmbäck, J., & Russo, P. (2018). Chemicals from textiles to skin: an in vitro permeation study of benzothiazole. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25(25), 24629–24638. doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-2448-6
  10. Seidu, R. K., Ofori, E. A., Eghan, B., Fobiri, G. K., Afriyie, A. O., & Acquaye, R. (2024). A systematic review of work-related health problems of factory workers in the textile and fashion industry. Journal of Occupational Health, 66(1), uiae007. doi.org/10.1093/joccuh/uiae007
  11. Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2017). A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future. ellenmacarthurfoundation.org
  12. World Bank. (2019). How much do our wardrobes cost to the environment? worldbank.org
  13. UN News. (2025, March 27). Fashioning a waste-free world: The true cost of what we wear. news.un.org
  14. Fashion Revolution. (2023). Fashion Transparency Index 2023. fashionrevolution.org