NJIT, NJII Partnership Markets 'Forever Chemical' Detecting Technology

Cassie Hallberg, CEO of NJIT-backed startup PureTrace Labs, discusses the partnership between New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the New Jersey Innovation Institute (NJII) and their work to create reliable, homeowner accessible PFAS detection technology.  Lululemon Athletica Inc. fell in New York trading Monday after the Texas attorney general said his office is investigating for the presence of so-called “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to health problems, in the yogawear brand’s apparel.

“Emerging research and consumer concerns have raised questions about the potential presence of certain synthetic materials and chemical compounds in their apparel,” the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement. The probe “will examine whether Lululemon’s athletic apparel contains PFAS or ‘forever chemicals’ that their health-conscious customers would not expect based on the brand’s marketing.”

Lululemon shares dropped as much as 4.5% after the announcement but subsequently pared the decline. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. PFAS were among substances that Lululemon aimed to limit use of, according to a 2024 document.

Paxton’s investigation creates another headache for Lululemon, which has slumped in the stock market as sales growth tapers off, quality issues resurface and the founder advocates for a board overhaul. The company is currently operating without a permanent chief executive officer as it searches for a replacement.

Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, known as PFAS, are used in hundreds of products that are slippery, non-stick or stain-resistant and have been linked in studies to health problems like cancer and poor immune health. The National Library of Medicine, which tracks published research globally, identifies only two studies that deal with textiles and health issues tied to endocrine disruption.

The Texas probe also underscores the risk for apparel companies as the use of PFAS continues to attract attention. Paxton is already suing Chinese fast-fashion company Shein, claiming its products have chemicals such as PFAS that violate US safety standards.

PFAS manufacturers have long been the target of litigation related to their presence in groundwater and exposure to firefighting foam. But more recently that has expanded to plaintiffs targeting consumer product makers, alleging the companies fail to disclose on their packaging the presence of PFAS.

Paxton has initiated a series of investigations in line with the Make America Healthy Again agenda led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Last April, Paxton said he was investigating Froot Loops-maker WK Kellogg Co. over its inclusion of artificial food colorings. The company, which is now owned by Ferrero International SA, said in July it would eliminate synthetic dyes by the end of 2027.

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