Recently published research claims that a range of infant garments tested positive for a variety of chemicals, including some deemed harmful.
The study, which was conducted by researchers in Spain and published in the journal Environmental Research, analyzed 43 pieces of clothing for infants, screening for all detectable chemicals. The mix of new and used garments were collected from homes, kindergartens and stores in Granada, Spain. The analysis found a total of 303 different chemicals in the garments’ fabric, representing a number of different classes, including pesticides, preservatives, flame retardants and pharmaceuticals.
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Each clothing sample was subjected to various forms of physical and environmental degradation such as washing, aging and staining to determine how easily compounds could leach from fabrics onto the skin of the wearer.
“This widespread chemical usage raises significant public health concerns, particularly because the routine act of wearing clothing implies exposure on a daily basis,” the scientists said in the study. “Of particular concern is the vulnerability associated with early-life exposure, especially during perinatal and childhood developmental periods.”
The findings come just a couple years after another study conducted by Spanish and Brazilian researchers revealed the existence of potentially harmful bisphenol chemicals in clothing sold in Spain for pregnant women, newborns and toddlers.
“Research focused on infant clothing as a potential dermal source of xenobiotic exposure is especially relevant,” the researchers said in the new study. “Indeed, several studies have already addressed this issue in relation to specific chemical compounds.”
The presence of pharmaceuticals—including the antidepressant venlafaxine, which appeared in more than half of the tested garments—suggests that textile contamination pathways aren’t fully understood, according to the researchers. And many of the chemicals identified in the study, such as fragrances and UV filters, are not subject to usage limits in the United States, unless they fall under other regulation such as flammability and lead content laws. In general, the European Union enforces stricter regulations on chemicals, but even so, many of those rules apply to industrial applications and not textiles.
Chemicals in textiles—be they apparel, upholstery, home linens or other applications used by humans—have become a major issue not only for consumers, but also for brands and manufacturers. PFAS, in particular, have been subject to stricter regulation and phase-outs in textile applications. Known colloquially as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment, some of the compounds in the PFAS class have been linked to health issues such as cancer and birth defects.
The researchers in this study pointed out that infants are particularly at risk when their clothing contains chemicals, as their skin tends to be thinner and they frequently touch their garments with their hands and mouths.
“This widespread chemical usage raises significant public health concerns, particularly because the routine act of wearing clothing implies exposure on a daily basis,” the researchers said.
Based on their findings, the writers of this study caution that while the presence of some chemicals such as UV-stabilizers to prevent fading and flame retardants may be known, others can be introduced to textiles unintentionally through fiber processing or contamination. And while traceability is becoming more available, the global nature of the textile industry impedes the ability of brands and consumers to know exactly what’s in the fabrics they’re selling and wearing.
“The massive scale of textile production, the diversity of manufacturing countries, and the lack of internationally harmonized regulations on chemicals in textiles make effective oversight extremely challenging,” the researchers said.
