159 | Toxic Yoga Pants? PFAS, Formaldehyde & Synthetic Activewear Explained | What Touches Your Skin 24/7 – Part 2

About this episode

The episode discusses the hidden chemicals in synthetic activewear and their potential health impacts.

You’ve cleaned up what you’re eating.You read ingredient labels — most of the time. But what about what you wear for hours? In Part 2 of this series, we’re looking at synthetic activewear — polyester, nylon, spandex — and the chemical treatments that don’t show up on the tag, including PFAS and formaldehyde-based finishes. If leggings are your everyday uniform, this conversation matters. Because when something becomes your second skin, it deserves a closer look.🍃 🍃 🍃 Hey Friend, As a wellness coach, I find that most women focus on food first. That’s wise. But your activewear often becomes your second skin — worn for workouts, errands, travel, sometimes all day. Polyester, nylon, and spandex dominate modern leggings. Most of these synthetic fabrics are finished with PFAS for water resistance, treated with formaldehyde-based resins, or infused with antimicrobial chemicals. Those treatments don’t clearly appear on the label. And when you live in something for hours at a time, contact changes the exposure conversation. In this episode, I break down: • Why synthetic fibers became standard• What PFAS and formaldehyde-based finishes are used for• Why long wear deserves more scrutiny•…

People in this episode

Host: Cynthia Harvey-Brown

Topics covered

• synthetic fabrics
• chemical exposure
• activewear
• health and wellness
• natural alternatives

Keywords

• toxic yoga pants
• PFAS
• formaldehyde
• synthetic activewear
• natural fibers

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Start Living Sustainable

Products: PFAS, formaldehyde, synthetic activewear, polyester, nylon, spandex

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