Starting January 1, New York will ban PFAS in clothing. Here’s what you need to know

‘Forever chemicals’ have been linked to cancer, developmental delays, and decreased fertility. States are only just starting to regulate their use in clothes.

PFAS, also called forever chemicals, have unique properties that make them useful for apparel. They can make clothes stain resistant, water repellent, and durable, especially in different temperatures. But these chemicals also come with a host of negative attributes: They stick around for thousands of years, polluting our environment and our bodies. They’ve been linked to increased risk of cancer, developmental delays, decreased fertility, and other health impacts.