Fluorinated Plastic Containers

Fluorine-treated HDPE bottles holding household and garden liquids.

46Moderate burden · out of 100

Cleaner swapThe same product in an untreated container; ask the maker whether the bottle is fluorinated

How this score is built

100Start
77Chemical hazard 5 × 4.6−23
66.8Everyday exposure 3 × 3.4−10.2
46Persistence 8 × 2.6−20.8
ModerateThe band46 sits in 40–59.

What each input rests on

The three ratings behind the score, and the studies each rests on
Input	Rating	Evidence
Chemical hazard	5/10	Multiple studies link PFAS exposure to adverse immune outcomes in children, and dyslipidemia is the strongest metabolic outcome; cancer evidence is limited to manufacturing locations with extremely high exposures. A review of the pathways of human exposure to poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and present understanding of health effects · J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2019 DOI 10.1038/s41370-018-0094-1 · PMID 30470793 · Abstract · read 2026-10-05
Everyday exposure	3/10	A directly fluorinated container held about 64 ng/g of PFAS; 7-day leaching into water, solvents and foods released 0.99-66.92 ng/g, up to 830% more at elevated temperature, mostly short-chain PFCAs. Directly Fluorinated Containers as a Source of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids · Environmental Science & Technology Letters 2023 DOI 10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00083 · Abstract · read 2026-10-05
Persistence	8/10	unsourced input Searched 2026-10-05: The PFAS measured here are mainly short-chain or fluorotelomer compounds; the human half-life studies found cover long-chain PFAS (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS), so none is cited.

Ratings are editorial. A study listed here supports the rating; it did not compute it. How the index is built

What this means for you

Treating a plastic bottle with fluorine to stop it leaking or swelling can form PFAS on the inner wall. EPA testing detected eight PFAS in rinsate from fluorinated HDPE containers at 20 to 50 parts per billion, and its September 2022 study found they leach into the liquid stored inside and keep leaching the longer it sits. The EPA says such containers are used for household consumer, pesticide, fuel and automotive products.

Evidence strength: moderate

Sources: US EPA, 'Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Pesticide and Other Packaging' (page updated 3 Nov 2025; container leaching study 8 Sept 2022; TSCA s.21 petition granted 10 July 2024)

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Lower-exposure choices

Vinegar & Baking Soda CleaningMinimal · Home

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