Allergic to Clothes?

Are you Allergic to Clothes?

Of course you’re concerned about the toxin levels in your food (e.g. pesticide residue).  But what about your clothes?

Well, for heaven’s sake, they’re clothes!

How could you be allergic to clothes?

They’re made from cotton…..or other stuff, but, they’re clothes, so of course they’re safe, they’re just material!

Except that some things get added during the manufacturing process which are not necessarily healthy for us.

Clothes need to be transported from where they’re made, to where they’re sold.  And formaldehyde is used in transportation because it stops mould or mildew.  It’s often used in international transport, but also with local transport (e.g. within your own country).

Of course you want your new clothes stain-free, wrinkle-free and disinfected.  (There’s a reason why formaldehyde was used in your biology class!).  That’s the reason why formaldehyde is used in clothes.

OK, so what does formaldehyde do to you?

Well, for many people, nothing (as far as we know).

For some, it results in contact dermatitis – skin rashes and blisters.   In other words, you might be allergic to clothes.

But what worries me, is the possible cumulative effect.   Especially for babies.

Cumulative

If we wear formaldehyde-treated clothing all day every day, can it be cumulative?  If we sleep on formaldehyde-treated bedding each night? We don’t know.

How does it affect babies and children?  We don’t know.

It would be good if the labels told us that formaldehyde was included in the clothes’ treatments.

But it’s not required, so it doesn’t happen.

And it’s not just clothing.

Towels, sheets, pillow cases, baby crib sheets, all these and more may have been treated with formaldehyde.  Also drapes or curtains and upholstery.

Imports Only?

If you’re thinking it’s only products made in other locations where standards aren’t necessarily as strict (sometimes they are more strict, not always), then think again.

Formaldehyde isn’t regulated, so anyone anywhere can add it, and labelling or informing the consumer is not required.

What can you do?

• For outerwear (i.e. clothes and bedding that don’t touch the skin) it’s probably not worth worrying about.
• For clothes that you wear next to your skin, and for wrinkle-free shirts and pants, easy-care pillow cases and crib sheets, wash them at least once before wearing or using.

Some of the highest concentrations are found in mens’ clothing.  Wrinkle-free and no-iron are a great idea, just be aware of what makes them so.

Washing won’t always help (it depends on the resins used and how they’ve been applied during manufacture), but it should help if you are allergic to clothes with formaldehyde.  It certainly can’t do any harm.

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