[strict9]

An absurd challenge: walk to into a target or some other large retail store and try to find mens briefs that do not have moisture wicking treatment.

It feels like I'm in a strange dystopia trying to find undergarments not treated with some sort of PFAS additives.

[ashildr]

This is really strange - I’m in Germany and I hear for the first time that underwear is treated like this.

None of the brand I wear (HOM) seem to be and I don’t remember that being mentioned on any pack of underwear I purchased the last 40 years.

Is it an US thing?

(and yes, I’m posting about my underwear on hacker news. weird.)

[strict9]

It is strange! It's a recent thing in the US, yes. Probably in the past 4-5 years nearly all major brands put some sort of special chemical that gives it 'moisture wicking' (usually in partnership with Dow or 3M).

[ectopod]

I just bought some new underwear from Marks & Spencer in the UK which has their "Cool & Fresh" treatment. I haven't worn it yet but this thread is putting me off.

M&S publish a Manufacturing Restricted Substances List [1] for their suppliers, which seems to ban the use of all per- and poly-fluorinated chemicals in the manufacture of textiles for them.

Either I'm misunderstanding, or some of these underwear treatments don't involve PFAs. Who knows what they use instead?

[1]: https://corporate.marksandspencer.com/documents/plan-a-our-a...

[ashildr]

Maybe it’s only in sports apparel over here?

[dd36]

Me too but for undershirts! I didn’t see your comment before making mine.