Trilene · Fishing Line
Berkley Trilene XT Monofilament Fishing Line
Lower PFAS concern; nylon monofilament fishing line historically unlikely to contain Teflon-family coating, but brand transparency is absent.
Berkley Trilene XT is standard monofilament fishing line made from nylon, a conventional polymer not typically associated with intentional PFAS incorporation. No public evidence of PFAS-containing coatings or treatments in this product category.
Shop Trilene on Amazon →Material
Monofilament nylon (likely Nylon 6)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
other is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Berkley Trilene XT is nylon 6 monofilament, a single continuous polymer strand extruded to high tensile strength. Nylon 6 does not inherently contain fluorinated compounds (Teflon-type coating, PFOA), so Teflon-family coating hazards like fume inhalation are not applicable to this product. The material is inert in aquatic environments and does not leach monomers or plasticizers under normal fishing conditions (freshwater or saltwater, ambient temperature).
The brand's record and disclosure
Berkley (owned by Pure Fishing, part of Rapala VMC) does not publicly disclose manufacturing processes, chemical additives, or PFAS testing for monofilament lines. No recalls, safety warnings, or third-party certifications are on record for this product line. The silence on composition is typical across fishing line manufacturers; no major brand in this category has published material safety data sheets or environmental impact reports.
How it compares in its category
Trilene XT occupies the mainstream middle tier: more durable and UV-resistant than budget monofilament, but uses similar base chemistry. Braided and fluorocarbon alternatives exist but introduce different trade-offs (braided nylon has microplastic shedding concerns; fluorocarbon may retain PFOA residues from older manufacturing). Monofilament nylon remains the safest material choice from a chemical hazard standpoint within recreational fishing lines.
If you buy it
Store spools in cool, dry conditions away from direct sunlight to slow UV degradation, which causes brittleness and breakage. Replace line annually or after heavy use; degraded monofilament fragments in aquatic environments are a microplastic and wildlife entanglement concern. Avoid storing near heat sources or chemicals. Dispose of spent line responsibly in trash, not water; some tackle shops accept line for recycling.
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.”
Nylon hydrolysis and microplastic fragmentation
Nylon 6 absorbs moisture and degrades over time, especially in sunlight, producing microplastic fragments. This hazard is not specific to Trilene XT but inherent to all monofilament; it poses risk to aquatic life if line breaks and enters waterways, not to the angler during normal use.
Thermal stability and UV absorbers
Nylon 6 monofilament typically contains UV absorber additives (common: carbon black or benzotriazole derivatives) to extend shelf life. No hazardous additives are documented for Trilene XT specifically, and UV absorbers in nylon do not migrate into food or skin contact under normal use.
Entanglement and wildlife harm
This is an environmental hazard, not a consumer safety hazard: lost or discarded monofilament entangles waterfowl and marine life. Berkley does not produce line designed to degrade faster or reduce this risk, unlike some specialty 'biodegradable' alternatives under development.
Heavy metal colorants or additives
Trilene XT monofilament is typically clear or lightly tinted. No cadmium, lead, or antimony is expected in nylon monofilament; pigments (if used for color) are not disclosed by the brand but cadmium-based dyes have been phased out in nylon textiles globally since the 1990s.
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.
Safer alternatives in Fishing Line
Stren
Original
Monofilament nylon fishing line
Lower PFAS concern for a fishing line product; no coating or treatment typical of PFAS carriers.
⚠Risky category by default
Maxima
Ultragreen One Shot
Lubricant/chain oil (mineral or synthetic base)
Lower PFAS concern for a chain lubricant; minimal Teflon-family coating/waterproofing risk profile.
⚠Risky category by default
Seaguar
Blue Label
Fluorocarbon fishing line (monofilament)
Fluorocarbon fishing line may contain PFAS; insufficient public data to grade definitively.
⚠Risky category by default
More fishing line 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.