PFAS in Lake Water: Swimming Safety and Health Risks

You’ve probably already started cutting PFAS out of your kitchen and your cleaning supplies. But what about the lake? If your family swims, kayaks, or picnics near lake water, there are a few things worth knowing about how forever chemicals show up there, and what you can do about the products you bring along.

For more on PFAS-free living, see our guide to PFAS free sous vide cooking and PFAS free camping gear.

Why PFAS in lake water is a health concern

PFAS have been linked to hormone disruption, elevated cholesterol, weakened immune response, and increased cancer risk at certain exposure levels. A study published by environmental health scientists found detectable PFAS in blood samples of people with ordinary household exposures. Nothing exotic, just everyday products. Because these chemicals don’t break down on their own, every bit of unnecessary exposure adds up, especially for kids and pregnant women.

What to look for when shopping for lake gear

Standard marketing claims aren’t reliable here. “Water-repellent” and “stain-guard” often mean PFAS is involved, unless the brand specifically says they use a fluorine-free treatment.

A few things that actually help: look for OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or bluesign certification, which restrict PFAS outright. For anything that touches food, glass and stainless steel are your cleanest options. And the PFAS Free Life Database keeps an up-to-date list of verified products if you want to check specific brands.

PFAS-free products for lake and swimming activities

Safer alternatives are easier to find than they used to be. For lake days, focus on:

1. Natural materials like stainless steel, cast iron, glass, wool, and untreated cotton. These don’t need chemical coatings to work well.
2. Certified products with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 or similar independent testing. If it’s certified, someone checked.
3. Brands that publish their chemical policies and can confirm they’ve moved away from fluorinated treatments.

For your drinking water at home, the APEC Water Systems ROES-50 5-Stage Reverse Osmosis is one of the most recommended systems in the PFAS-free community. It filters out PFAS along with dozens of other contaminants.

Practical ways to cut PFAS exposure at the lake

You don’t have to overhaul everything at once. Start with the areas where you get the most exposure, like cookware, drinking water, and food packaging, and work outward from there.

• Swap out products with fluorine-based coatings as they wear out. No need to throw everything away tomorrow.
• Store food in glass or stainless steel instead of plastic or coated containers, especially for hot food.
• Check out our guide to PFAS free food storage bags for easy kitchen swaps.
• Review your cookware with our PFAS free cookware guide.

Give yourself time. Nobody does this all at once. The PFAS Free Life Database is handy for checking products as you go.

Frequently asked questions

What health risks come from PFAS in lake water?

PFAS exposure has been connected to elevated cholesterol, immune suppression, hormone interference, and increased cancer risk in some studies. Children and pregnant women are more vulnerable. The encouraging news is that your body does clear PFAS over time once you reduce exposure, though it happens slowly.

Do all lake and swimming products contain PFAS?

No. But a lot of products marketed as water-resistant or stain-resistant have used PFAS-based coatings historically. The safest move is to check for third-party certifications like OEKO-TEX Standard 100, or ask the brand directly whether they use fluorinated treatments.

Are PFAS-free alternatives actually any good?

They’ve come a long way. Stainless steel, cast iron, glass, and untreated natural fibers all perform well without chemical coatings. For outdoor gear, fluorine-free DWR (durable water repellent) treatments work for everyday conditions. Most families find the switch is smoother than they expected.