Clothing with a warning: do you know what's hiding in your wardrobe?

The skin is our largest organ, through which substances coming into contact with it can be absorbed inside. So it makes sense to be interested not only in what cosmetics we apply to ourselves, but also in what we wear. After all, clothes are in direct contact with our skin almost 24/7! So let's take a look together at what's hidden in our wardrobe and how it affects our health.

Imagine an ordinary basic T-shirt. The ingredients label says “100% cotton.” Do you think it's really just cotton and nothing more? Error! Correctly the label should say xx% cotton, x% chemical 1, x% chemical 2, x% chemical 3, etc.

Why are any chemicals added to our clothes at all?

Basically to make the clothes more appealing to customers.

The toxicity of clothing often begins in the field - for example, in conventional cotton cultivation, a huge amount of pesticides are used , which we, the customers (in the good faith that we have an item made of "natural" material) then put on ourselves. The clothing is then taken to a factory where it is dyed (no, cottons don't grow bright blue or pink) and treated with a variety of chemicals - such as stain resisters, softeners, flame retardants, anti-odor and anti-fungal agents, and more.

For completeness, we add a list of the most used synthetic substances in the textile industry:

Azo dyes

Bright, cheap...but also carcinogenic and causing allergies, irritating to the eyes and skin. You can find them in darkly pigmented, black or brightly colored clothing that will leave your sink just as brightly colored if you try to wash it by hand.

Brominated flame retardants

These substances are mainly added to pajamas and other children's clothing, where they have the task of slowing down or preventing the spread of fire. They damage the hormonal, immune and reproductive systems and also remain in nature for a long time. They are mainly a problem in the USA, their use is regulated in the EU.

Formaldehyde

It prevents creasing of textiles and the formation of mold during transport from one end of the world to the other. It irritates the skin and can cause respiratory problems.

Phthalates

They add elasticity and flexibility to synthetic materials, they are most often found in sportswear, raincoats or synthetic leather. It belongs to endocrine disruptors, can cause or worsen allergies and asthma.

PFAS

...or per and polyfluorinated compounds (which include, for example, Teflon). You can find them in things with the attribute "water resistant" or "stain resistant", where it creates a kind of impregnation. PFAS are referred to in English as so-called forever chemicals , as they are very difficult to decompose in nature and take a very long time. They represent a threat both to the environment and to our organism.

Heavy metals

Metals such as lead, chromium, antimony and cadmium can be found in clothing as part of dyes in which they act as a stabilizer. If they get into our body in larger quantities, they can seriously affect the function of some organs.

VOCS

Volatile Organic Compounds, which include, for example, toluene, are substances released from solvents, adhesives and synthetic dyes used in textile production. They represent a major health risk especially for workers in the textile industry.

What is the problem?

The above-mentioned substances can have a negative effect on human health. We are not only talking about the health of the end customers who wear the chemicals, but also of the workers in the textile industry who come into contact with them during the production of clothes. In addition, these substances significantly pollute the planet. A lot of them are resistant to decomposition (to keep the color or selected properties of the material), so logically they will not decompose even in nature. They accumulate in the soil or watercourses, where they threaten local organisms.

Are these chemicals in my clothes too?

Most likely yes. Journalist Alden Wicker, author of the book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick, had a test developed in a laboratory that issues the Oeko-Tex certificate. The subject of testing were pieces from brands that are well known to each of us. The result was quite unsurprising - the aforementioned toxic substances were confirmed in most of the tested products.

Can these chemicals be washed out of clothing?

Unfortunately not. At least not all of them. Even so, it is definitely advisable to wash new things before wearing them for the first time , and if you are not already doing this, please fix it. Although you won't wash out the dyes or water-repellent impregnation, you will at least remove the residues of the chemicals used in the production of the clothes by washing them. When washing, of course, think of a gentle detergent and fabric softener, so that you don't unnecessarily add additional /toxic/ chemicals to your clothes.

What about the legislation?

The EU partially regulates the use of toxic substances in clothing (the REACH regulation or the European regulation on azo dyes). However, even regulation cannot guarantee us 100% safety of clothing, as the recent case of Greenpeace vs. Shein proves.

In 2022, the German branch of Greenpeace bought 47 pieces from the Chinese brand Shein, which they sent to a laboratory for chemical analysis. Toxic substances were found in 15 products. In addition, five of the tested products violated the EU limits for banned substances by more than 100%, and ten by more than 33%.

What can we do as customers?

According to the Fashion Transparency Index 2023 , only half of the 250 largest fashion brands disclose the chemical composition of their products. It is therefore appropriate to require brands to disclose the complete composition of their products and to push for a legislative change in the obligation to disclose this composition. Just imagine what the tags on clothes would look like then.

Each of us would probably buy a sweatshirt that has 100% cotton on the label , but fewer of us would buy it if the label said 90% cotton, 5% AZO dyes, 3% toluene, 2% formaldehyde and 1% heavy metals.

what do you think

Author: Teresa Reyes

toxic substances, chemicals in clothes, fast fashion, sustainable fashion, chemistry in clothes, healthy clothes, fashion is harmful, fashion and health, clothes and eczema