Clothes factories often make garments by adding various chemicals, some of which might be toxic and even carcinogenic. According to Chao Ming-wei, a certified toxicology expert from the American Society of Toxicology and associate professor of the Department of Biotechnology at Chung Yuan Christian University in Taiwan, there are ways to identify clothing containing toxins and to lessen the health risks.
In 2024, German professional publication Oekotest conducted random testing on 21 clothing items from mainland China’s e-commerce platform Shein. These items ranged from baby shoes to teen dresses and adult faux leather jackets. The test results showed that two-thirds of the items failed to meet safety standards, and some of them, including baby clothing and sandals, were found to contain toxins such as antimony, lead, cadmium, dimethylformamide, and phthalates, among others.
What Dangers Do These Toxins Pose?
Chao told NTD’s “Health 1+1” program that exposure to the following toxins can lead to health issues:- Antimony: This silvery-white metal exacerbates immune system problems and causes skin allergies. According to the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, antimony oxide is added to textiles and plastics to make them fire-resistant. However, antimony can hurt the heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal system, liver, and respiratory tract and affect developmental health.
- Lead: This heavy metal affects the nervous system and can cause anemia and kidney damage.
- Cadmium: The National Cancer Institute states that cadmium and its compounds are highly toxic and can cause cancer, including lung, prostate, pancreatic, breast, and bladder cancers. It can also cause lesions and kidney damage.
- Dimethylformamide: Accumulation of this chemical in the liver may cause liver poisoning.
- Phthalates: Phthalates damage the reproductive system, resulting in smaller sexual organs in boys, precocious puberty, and early menstruation in girls. Gary Ginsberg, a lecturer at the Yale School of Public Health, said that phthalates, one of the plasticizers in personal products, can disrupt natural hormones, inhibit testosterone, and enhance estrogen, which can lead to improper development of baby boys.
Why Are There Chemicals in Clothing?
Chao said that toxic substances come primarily from these sources during the garment-making process:- Plasticizers: These are often added to waterproof clothing and make colors appear more vivid.
- Fluorescent Agents: Light-colored clothes may contain fluorescent agents, added to make them look whiter, more colorful, and brighter. If the clothing is reflective under UV light, it indicates the presence of these chemicals.
- Bleaching Agents: One of these is formaldehyde, which is used to prevent white clothing from yellowing, provide mildew resistance and wrinkle-free properties, and make the fabric stiffer.
- Dyes: These may contain heavy metals.
- Pesticides: These may be added to prevent mold on pure cotton clothing and to protect against pests.
