Hoya · Waterproof Camera & Lens Protection
Hoya UV filter HD MkII
Glass optics lower concern, but coating composition not disclosed by brand.
UV filter uses optical glass with anti-reflective coatings. Hoya discloses no PFAS information about coating materials. No public lab data available.
The safe swap
Sigma
Sigma WR UV Filter
100/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned its A.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Optical glass with multi-coated lens treatment
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Unknown / proprietary coating
Proprietary coating with no disclosed chemistry.
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Hoya UV filter HD MkII is optical glass with multi-layer anti-reflective coatings applied to both surfaces. The glass substrate itself is inert and does not leach chemicals into the environment or onto skin. The multi-coat treatment (likely containing silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, and proprietary polymers) is mechanically bonded to the glass surface and sealed during manufacturing, meaning it does not shed particles or degrade through normal use as a passive optical element.
The brand's record and disclosure
Hoya is a major Japanese optics manufacturer with no public record of chemical safety controversies or product recalls related to lens filters. The company does not proactively disclose coating chemistry or PFAS use in optical coatings, which is standard practice across the industry (most manufacturers treat this as proprietary). No independent testing of Hoya lens coatings for PFAS or heavy metals has been published in consumer safety databases.
How it compares in its category
Optical filters are a lower-risk category compared to cookware, textiles, or food storage because they do not contact skin, food, or water under normal use, and glass is chemically inert. Competing brands (B+W, Marumi, Tiffen) use similar multi-coat glass designs with equivalent disclosure practices. The HD MkII specifically includes hardened coatings to resist scratching, which may involve additional polymer layers but does not increase toxicological risk.
If you buy it
Store in a dry case to prevent moisture from degrading coatings over years of storage; avoid extreme temperature swings that could stress the glass-coating interface. Clean with microfiber cloth and lens-grade cleaner only, never abrasive materials. The filter itself requires no maintenance beyond occasional gentle cleaning and will not degrade chemically in normal use. If the coating becomes visibly scratched or peeling, it may lose optical performance but poses no safety hazard; replace if optical quality is critical.
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Coating material composition (undisclosed polymers or resins)
Multi-layer anti-reflective coatings may contain PFAS-based polymers or other synthetic resins to improve durability, but composition is proprietary and not disclosed by Hoya. No leaching pathway exists under normal filter use (passive optical element, no water or food contact).
Lens surface degradation over extended storage
Optical coatings can degrade if exposed to extreme humidity, salt spray, or temperature cycling, but this affects optical performance, not chemical safety. No toxicological hazard from aged coatings has been documented.
Glass substrate fracture (mechanical, not chemical)
Impact or dropping the filter can crack or shatter the glass, creating sharp edges. This is a physical hazard, not a chemical one; the glass itself is non-toxic.
Heavy metals in optical glass or coatings
Optical glass may contain trace lead or other metals as flux agents (industry standard), but these are locked into the glass matrix and do not leach. No public data indicates Hoya uses lead-heavy optical glass in consumer filters.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 62% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Waterproof Camera & Lens Protection
Sigma
WR UV Filter
UV-absorbing optical glass or mineral coating
Lower concern optical filter; no known PFAS-prone components identified.
✓Naturally PFAS-free material
GoPro
HB-Series Lens Collection for HERO13 Black
Glass and optical lens elements
Lower concern. Glass lenses pose minimal PFAS risk typically.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
GoPro
K&F Concept 4-in-1 Filter Kit for GoPro HERO9/10/11
Glass optical filters, metal frames, rubber gaskets
Lower concern. Optical glass filters unlikely to contain PFAS.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More waterproof camera & lens protection grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.