Around a week ago, this article https://www.mamavation.com/motherhood/diapers-pfas-forever-chemicals.html was released discussing the dangers of PFAs in both disposable and cloth diapers, and also included the results of testing on several popular brands. I highly recommend you read the article as it's quite informative. But is it a reason to completely redo your diaper stash?
Firstly, I want to start by saying that our diapers, specifically the PUL on our diapers, do not contain fluorine. It's one of the reasons I chose the manufacturer that I did and I pay about 50% more per diaper than many other companies out there, so that I can ensure we offer a quality, fluorine free product.
I also want to mention that ALL diapers on the US market must comply with CPSIA, and are lab tested to ensure they are free of lead and phthalates. There are no diapers on the market that should contain those substances. CPSIA does not require testing for fluorine. I also think it's worth noting, that the main risk for exposure to PFAs is our drinking water. Products with PFAs get sent to landfills or our oceans, where those chemicals then leach into our water supply.
Where would you find fluorine? It's used to assist in waterproofing, so athletic wear, tents, and disposable + reusable diapers are all places you might find it. It's also what made Teflon such an effective non-stick coating for pots and pans.
Since it is used in waterproofing, the ONLY place you should be finding it on a diaper is the PUL (the outer, waterproof layer). I'm unsure of Mamavation's reasoning for testing natural fiber only diapers like prefolds, but needless to say those tests came up clear. I also believe there were a few diapers tested that came back with low levels of PFAs (barely above the cut off) on the inside of the diaper. All those diapers appear to have been lined with micro fleece, and I'm unsure why they would test positive.
So what does that mean for you? As shocking as these results may be (and they do deserve attention and advocacy around making cloth diapers safer) I feel it's important to keep perspective in this situation. Diapers are particularly concerning, because they go on our babies MOST sensitive skin, and PFAs are also known reproductive toxins. It's worth remembering that the PUL part of a diaper does not directly touch babies skin. The inner lining (if you use a pocket) up against babies skin, while still polyester, should not contain significant amounts of PFAs. If you use any other kind of system like flat, prefold, preflat etc, then only natural fibers will touch baby, and the cover on the outside will have no direct contact.
Ultimately, it comes down to your comfort level. It is absolutely essential for companies to stop using PFAs, if only to cut down on the amount that will be released into the environment (a lot more disposables end up in landfills than cloth btw). If it's an absolute no for you, look for companies that are committed to not using fluorine, or you could look into natural fiber + wool cover options. I hope this has been helpful .
