Lululemon, a pioneer in the activewear industry, is at the center of a state investigation into the potential use of so-called “forever chemicals” in its clothing.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday that his office is reviewing whether the company misled customers about the health impacts of its products, according to CBS News.
Paxton said “emerging research and consumer concerns” have raised questions about the potential presence of ‘forever chemicals’ in Lululemon clothing.
Forever chemicals can linger in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years. According to CBS News, studies have linked them to possible adverse health effects in humans, including an increased risk of certain cancers.
In a statement, Lululemon acknowledged it had previously used ‘forever chemicals’ in its durable water-repellent products, but said it phased out use of the chemicals three years ago.
Arlene Blum, a research scientist at the University of California, Berkeley, said Lululemon’s move is part of a wider trend among major clothing brands.
“They’re chemicals you don’t want to use on anything unless you absolutely need them, but that doesn’t mean you wear PFAS clothing and you get sick,” Blum said. “It means that you get some exposure, which adds to all kinds of other exposures you get from air pollution and food that might be problematic. So, we’re all exposed to some toxic chemicals. And we want to minimize that across the population.”
Blum said a major reason clothing brands began abandoning PFAS was because of two state laws that went into effect in California and New York last year, banning the sale of clothing containing forever chemicals.