How safe are the clothes webuy for our 'small people'? A report states that imported clothing from China contains unacceptable levels of toxic chemicals.

 

Chemicals residues on clothingare hazardous to human health. Increasing concern about global awareness hassparked the consumer's desire for organic clothing, leading more and morepeople to choose the nature's life style. Utmost care should be taken in thepurchase of kids clothing. It should be kept in mind that they should be nontoxic, eco friendly and free from chemicals, and skin irritants. A reportstates the shocking fact that the children's clothes imported from China contain excessive chemical content that can harm the kids.

 

The provincial quality andtechnology supervision administration has discovered the shocking fact that outof all the garments imported from China; only 53.5% meet with the safetystandards. An inside information states that the garments included falseinformation about the raw materials, color fastness, and also had excessivecontent of the chemical formaldehyde.

 

Formaldehyde is commonly used ingarments as an embalming fluid to give a 'permanent press' look. Excessivecontent of this chemical in our clothes can cause irritation in eyes, skin,nose, and result in respiratory problems, and diseases like cancer. It can alsoresult in headaches, skin rashes, nausea, and chronic fatigue. Just by simplytouching those products, or breathing the formaldehyde they release into theair, can cause intense symptoms.

 

Two years ago, New Zealand's Ministry of Consumer Affairs were investigating claims that clothes with high level offormaldehyde were imported from China and sold in their country. Testsconducted on these clothing revealed levels of formaldehyde in Chinese madeclothing up to 900 times more than the level known to affect humans. TheChinese made flannelette pyjamas claiming to be low fire danger has also provedfutile. (Source: &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1930)%>" target="_blank">http://www.abc.net.au). Earlier a worldwide recall of Chinese toys was made due tohigh lead content. An investigative New Zealand television show revealed that500 times more than the safe amount of formaldehyde was found in the woolen andcotton clothes imported from China.

 

Researches supported by the WHO(World Health Organization) states that 20 parts per million of formaldehyde isenough to be hazardous to human health. Europe has limited the chemical residuein kids clothing to a maximum of 30ppm.

 

If China is to increase thequality of materials and processes, it will simultaneously increase the cost ofgoods. Profits would be less and Chinese products would be less competitive. Entryof low cost manufacturers from China into the global market, who are less awareof the chemical risks, product regulations, safety, and childrens health, islikely to pose a serious threat.

 

This induces a growing concern aboutthe Chinese clothing. Stricter regulations are needed regarding garments, especiallyfor children's clothing.

 

References:

 

  1. &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1930)%>" target="_blank">http://english.vovnews.vn
  2. &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1930)%>" target="_blank">http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com
  3. &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1930)%>" target="_blank">www.china.org.cn
  4. &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1930)%>" target="_blank">http://www.parentdish.com
  5. &sec=article&uinfo=<%=server.URLEncode(1930)%>" target="_blank">http://www.treehugger.com