Nursing Bras Tested for Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

Does your nursing bra contain indications of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals?” Mamavation was asked that question by our audience and the only way to find out was to send the nursing bras used by our audience to the lab. So that is what we did in our latest consumer study on indications of PFAS. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best cooking oils tested for toxic phthalates, best & worst cookware sans PFAS, & best water filters to capture PFAS, now join us for a consumer study on indications of PFAS and nursing bras. Scroll down to the bottom of this post to see the raw data from our EPA-certified laboratory.

Disclosure: This consumer study is released in partnership with Environmental Health News. This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. Donations were provided by Environmental Health News and Mamavation community members. Note that Mamavation has only “spot-checked” the industry and thus we cannot make predictions about brands and products that we have not tested. Products and manufacturing aides can change without notice so buyer beware. This post contains affiliate links, with some to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay ourselves back for the testing. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Thank you!  

Mamavation’s Lab Finds Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals” In Nursing Bras

Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory found indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” after analyzing 15 nursing bras. PFAS is found in many other areas of our homes with some examples being cookware, makeup, drinking water, contact lenses & dental floss. These chemicals are linked to serious health effects, which we will discuss later. Because PFAS are so toxic, Mamavation has commissioned our own scientific studies on indications of PFAS in products to make recommendations for nursing bras using PFAS-free materials. Read Mamavation’s articles on these products to find which brands are organic-fluorine-free.

For this consumer study, Mamavation sent 15 nursing bras from 10 brands to an EPA-certified laboratory looking for indications of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals.” This is done through total organic fluorine testing, which is also how the State of California determines there is no PFAS in textiles. Here’s what we found:

• 53% of total nursing bras tested had indications of PFAS “forever chemicals.” That’s 8 detections from 15 nursing bras had organic fluorine above 10 parts per million (ppm) according to our lab;
• Ranges of organic fluorine, a marker of PFAS, were from 10 ppm to 276 ppm;
• Compliance with CA: One brand had over 100 ppm of organic fluorine according to our laboratory, which means they may be out of compliance with California’s new law on PFAS in clothing, which limits them to 100 ppm organic fluorine in 2025 and later 50 ppm organic fluorine in 2027.

California passed laws years ago that became law in 2025 protecting consumers from PFAS in clothing. Beginning on January 1st, 2025, no company producing “apparel” which includes “undergarmets” can sell or distribute in California when the presence of PFAS is measured by total organic fluorine above 100 parts per million (ppm). Then on January 1st, 2027, these amounts go down below 50 ppm of total organic fluorine. Therefore, it’s possible we may have found a product out of compliance with this new California law.

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Have Problematic Health Effects

PFAS “forever chemicals” are problematic for human health and the environment. They are considered ubiquitous, persistent, and toxic. Many of these PFAS chemicals can last for years or decades in our bodies. The health effects of exposure to PFAS on the skin in sensitive areas like breast tissue are unknown. It’s also unknown what happens when it is absorbed into our tissues and travels around in our bodies. However, we do know that these areas can be vulnerable to toxic chemicals like PFAS “forever chemicals” because of the proximity to breast tissue and the lymphatic system. Therefore, it’s imperative to reduce the amount of PFAS you are exposed to from food, water, and consumer products like nursing bras. Mamavation is dedicated to helping you do that when you are shopping for nursing bras.

Here are some of the health effects of different PFAS “forever chemicals:”

• Reduction in immunity
• Reduced vaccination response
• Increased risk of allergies & asthma in young children
• Affected growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
• Increase cholesterol levels
• Metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Lowered a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
• Lowered male fertility
• Increased risk of kidney & testicular cancers
• Causes endocrine disruption
• Disrupted normal thyroid function
• Increases risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children 

It’s also very clear based on biomonitoring evidence from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) that PFAS are in all Americans. Therefore, these exposures can harm most Americans.

Other Categories of Products Mamavation Has Tested for Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

Before we launch into the raw data from our lab, we wanted to remind you about all the other studies we have done on indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” inside the food and consumer products you may bring inside your home. Each one of these studies were done in a similar fashion as this study with brands sent independently to the lab and raw data of those labs at the bottom of the post.

• Soft Contact Lenses
• Green Beauty Makeup
• Lip Balm
• Condoms & Lubricants
• Dental Floss
• Toilet Paper
• Period Underwear
• Tampons
• Sanitary Pads, Pantiliners, & Incontinence Pads
• Powdered Electrolytes
• Butter Wrappers
• Pasta & Tomato Sauces
• Nut Butters (Peanut butter, etc.)
• Cooking Oils (olive oil, almond oil, canola oil, etc)
• Ketchup
• Activewear (Yoga Pants)
• Sports Bras
• Parchment Paper
• Cupcake Liners
• Plastic-Free Straws
• Fast Food Packaging
• Children’s Probiotics
• Kids’ Backpacks
• Baby Strollers

All additional consumer studies are posted here.

Mamavation’s Investigation of Nursing Bras & Indications of PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

Nursing Bras were purchased between March and April 2025. For this consumer study, all products were purchased by community members and sent to us in original packaging. Each product was recorded in our database and sent directly to the lab within its original packaging.

Testing: Mamavation’s EPA-certified laboratory uses marker testing to identify the potential presence of PFAS “forever chemicals” in nursing bras. Organic fluorine is a marker for PFAS because all PFAS chemicals are carbon-based compounds that contain fluorine. The specific lab method used to test for total fluorine was the Determination of Total Fluorine by Oxygen Flask Combustion and Ion-Selective Electrode. If total fluorine was observed at a detection level of 10 ppm or greater, the lab did the Determination of free Fluoride Ion in the product by Ion-Selective Electrode and then subtracted that from the Total Fluorine to determine the amount of organic fluorine. This marker testing is likely to show the presence of PFAS. Organic fluorine can also capture other fluoropolymers, pharmaceuticals, and common hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants, such as 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (commonly known as R-134a) and 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (commonly known as HFO-1234yf), which are all also PFAS.  None of which you want around your food, or personal care products!

Scott Belcher, Ph.D. & Associate Professor with the Center for Environmental & Health Effects of PFAS at North Carolina State University says “fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE),  are extremely common forms of PFAS that could be contributing to the organic fluorine found in nursing bras. Methods used for detecting individual PFAS, such as PFOA or GenX, cannot directly identify PTFE. However, the analysis of total organic fluorine (TOF) does account for all PFAS contaminants in nursing bras, including PTFE. Therefore, this method of testing serves as a good ‘spot-check’ of consumer products.”

Not Our Favorite Nursing Bras

These products were sent to an EPA-certified laboratory and found to have detectable organic fluorine, which is indicative of PFAS “forever chemicals.” The detection limit for testing was 10 parts per million (ppm).

• Bravado Designs Original Pumping & Nursing Bra — 15 ppm organic fluorine (Materials: 49% Cotton, 32% TENCEL Modal, 19% Spandex)
• Cake Maternity Lotus Yoga & Pumping Bra — 276 ppm organic fluorine (Note: This brand is over 100 ppm organic fluorine, which means they may be out of compliance with California’s new law.) (Materials: 95% Nylon, 5% Elastane)
• Cake Maternity Serenity Pull Aside Sleep Nursing Bra — 23 ppm organic fluorine (Materials: 92% Nylon, 8% Elastane)
• Gap 3PL Organic CowsPYPink Nursing Bra — 20 ppm organic fluorine (Materials: 92% Cotton, 8% Spandex)
• H&M Mama Padded Cotton Nursing Bra — 20 ppm organic fluorine (Materials: 95% Cotton, 5% Spandex)
• Kindred Bravely Sublime Hands-Free Pumping & Nursing Bra — 10 ppm organic fluorine (Materials: Outer: 94% Nylon, 6% Spandex, Inner: 84% Nylon, 16% Spandex)
• Momcozy Ultra Soft & Omni Maternity Nursing Bra-YN21 Nursing Bralette — 16 ppm organic fluorine (Materials: 58.4% Nylon, 41.6% Spandex)
• Target Auden Unlined Racerback Nursing Bralette — 11 ppm organic fluorine. (Material: 42% Cotton, 42% Rayon, 12% Nylon, 4% Spandex)

Better Nursing Bras

This category contains brands and products that did not have indications of PFAS “forever chemicals,” however they do not contain organic materials.

• Bodily Everything Bra — non-detect organic fluorine (Materials: 49% Viscose, 43% Micromodal, 8% Elastane)
• Bodily Do Anything Bra — non-detect organic fluorine (Materials: 76% Polyamide, 24% Elastane)
• Momcozy Active – Low Impact Nursing Sports Bra Nursing Bralette — non-detect organic fluorine (Materials: 70% Nylon, 30% Spandex)
• Momcozy The Original Basic Pumping Bra — non-detect organic fluorine (Materials: 93% Cotton, 7% Spandex)
• Target Auden Nursing Bra — non-detect organic fluorine (Material: 92% Nylon, 8% Spandex)
• Quince Seamless Maternity Nursing Bra — non-detect organic fluorine (Materials: 75% Recycled Nylon, 19% Nylon, 6% Spandex)

Best Nursing Bras

This category contains brands & products that did not have indications of PFAS “forever chemicals” and are also made with some organic materials.

• ThirdLove MD+ Organic Cloud Cotton Wireless Nursing Bra — non-detect organic fluorine (Materials: Cotton: 93% Organic Cotton, 7% Spandex, Mesh: 93% Nylon, 7% Spandex)

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