Shakespeare · Fishing Line & Fishing Tackle
Assorted Fishing Lines: Shakespeare 7000 Mono 6lb Zebco OmniFlex 6lb 700yds Devils River Casting Line 20lb 50yds Nylon W
Lower concern. Standard nylon fishing line, no known PFAS additives.
Nylon monofilament fishing lines are inherently PFAS-free materials. Shakespeare discloses no PFAS treatment; standard nylon mono lacks typical PFAS applications found in waterproof or stain-resistant products.
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Nylon monofilament fishing line
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
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
Shakespeare 7000 and Zebco OmniFlex are extruded nylon monofilament lines, a single continuous polymer strand without braiding or coating. Nylon (polyamide-6 or polyamide-66) is thermoplastic and absorbs water over time, which slightly reduces tensile strength but does not typically degrade into toxic byproducts during normal fishing use. The Devils River nylon line follows the same chemistry. These products contain no known intentional chemical additives beyond standard nylon polymer stabilizers and UV absorbers common to all monofilament.
The brand's record and disclosure
Shakespeare and Zebco are legacy tackle brands without publicly documented environmental or chemical disclosure programs. Neither brand publishes materials safety data sheets or third-party testing results for fishing line products as routine practice. No recalls or safety complaints specific to these monofilament lines appear in CPSC records or angler communities. Brand transparency is minimal, but this reflects industry-wide practice rather than individual concern.
How it compares in its category
Nylon monofilament is the most widely used fishing line type and has the longest established safety record in the category. It is chemically inert during storage and use at normal temperatures (below 60 degrees Celsius). Braided and fluorocarbon alternatives present no lower chemical hazard; this monofilament sits in the middle-to-lower risk range because it avoids coatings, dyes, and specialty additives found in premium lines.
If you buy it
Store line out of direct sunlight in a cool, dry place to slow UV degradation and water absorption; nylon weakens gradually when wet-stored or exposed to heat above 80 degrees Celsius. Replace line annually or when it becomes brittle, discolored, or loses elasticity. Do not incinerate spent line; dispose as regular waste or recycle if your facility accepts nylon. Wash hands after handling if you have sensitive skin, though nylon itself is hypoallergenic.
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.”
UV and heat degradation / polymer leaching
Nylon monofilament degrades when exposed to intense UV or temperatures above 80 degrees Celsius, releasing small amounts of oligomers and residual monomers. Degradation is slow under normal fishing storage but accelerates in hot vehicles or direct sun; this is a long-term concern mainly if line fragments are ingested by aquatic life, not the angler.
Microplastic shedding
Fishing line fragments are well-documented contributors to environmental microplastic and entanglement hazards in waterways. Monofilament does not shed microplastics during use in the angler's hands, but broken or discarded line persists in aquatic ecosystems for years; this is a disposal and environmental issue rather than a direct user safety hazard.
Heavy metals in additives (stabilizers, colorants)
Standard nylon monofilament uses carbon black and hindered amine light stabilizers (HALS) as UV protectants, neither of which contain heavy metals at regulatory concern levels. No lead, cadmium, or mercury additives are typical in commodity fishing line; if present at all, they would be incidental trace contamination rather than formulation.
Allergenic dyes or chemical residues
Shakespeare and Zebco monofilament lines are not dyed; they are extruded in natural nylon color or with carbon black pigment. No azo dyes, formaldehyde releasers, or color-additive allergens are used in standard monofilament formulations.
Water absorption and hydrolysis over time
Nylon absorbs up to 2-3 percent of its weight in water, which causes slight brittleness and loss of knot strength if stored wet for extended periods. This is not a safety hazard to the angler but degrades performance; reels and spools should be dried and stored in low-humidity conditions to extend line life.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% 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.
More fishing line & fishing tackle 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.