Fillers are proposed, with the exception of layered silicates, which have a surface coating, which comprises a water-soluble polyamide or multiple water-soluble polyamides, wherein at least one of these water-soluble polyamides is produced by polycondensation from monomer components, which comprise at least one dicarboxylic acid and at least one selected ether diamine, preferably having linear oxypropyl amino end groups. Fillers coated in this manner are suitable for use in the production of filled and/or reinforced thermoplastic plastics molding materials. Thermoplastic plastics molding materials which contain fillers having such a surface coating have good mechanical properties and few emissions (low outgassing).