What’s In Your Clothing?
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 23rd, 2012
Good morning!
After reading the comments yesterday I discovered that there are quite a few topics being discussed that have been on my mind as well. But since I only post once a day, I decided to pick a topic that is close to home and reserve my thoughts on the other topics for another day.
I am in the fashion business and shopping for others is a task that I do very often. I myself try not to buy anything made in China, and especially clothing. It is a tough thing to do when practically everything , even higher end items are made in China. With respect to shopping for my clients it is impossible when I am buying many things for them to not pull items made in China. And since it is not a requirement from my clients, where it is made is low on the list when it comes to me shopping for them.
However, after reading the comments from E and Robert, rt, and Haley, (thank you all!) I figured there are many more concerned readers who would like to know just what is in the garments that are draping their precious bodies. I know I want to know.
The first article I discovered was the one that E mentioned: A report published by Greenpeace. Today I am going to post the one on Formaldehyde which is present and prevalent in our clothing.
Toxic dyes, lethal logos, cotton drenched in formaldehyde… How your clothes could poison you
As she opened the packet of new T-shirts she had bought from a well-known High Street chain, Merlene Paul hoped that, just for once, she would be able to indulge her former love of clothes.
But within seconds she was overwhelmed by familiar sensations. ‘My throat closed up, my eyes started to sting and a sharp, acrid smell made my nose prickle,’ says the retired 63-year-old. ‘I knew I had to get away from the T-shirts quickly, or I’d have a full-blown reaction.’
The culprit? Formaldehyde. It is most commonly associated with preserving corpses, but, alarmingly, many big clothing chains also use it to give their wares a fresh, unwrinkled appearance and prevent mildew during shipping.
Not that you’d necessarily know. The manufacturers of clothes sold in the UK are not required to disclose the use of the chemical on labels. And despite tests in New Zealand that discovered formaldehyde levels in some Chinese clothes exports up to 900 times higher than the prescribed safety limit, no testing has been done on similar clothes sold in Britain.
Yet formaldehyde, a highly toxic, colourless gas, has been linked to skin irritation and allergic reactions. Even more worryingly, the chemical is classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
And according to Merlene, from Hungerford, Berkshire, it’s ubiquitous: ‘It’s in mattresses, bedding, carpeting, furniture and in most of the clothes that we buy. Department stores smell pungently of it. And washing clothes before you wear them isn’t always enough to get rid of it.’
She first experienced a problem 20 years ago when she was working in the interior design industry, spending hours each day in a workshop where rolls of fabric were being stored.
After three months she started to feel extremely ill. ‘I started off with flu-like symptoms and then I developed bloodshot eyes and my nose started to bleed. I visited the doctor repeatedly but they couldn’t explain it. Then I developed welts on my body.’
Shortly after that, Merlene collapsed at work and was diagnosed with a suspected allergy to a number of chemicals, including formaldehyde. She was unable to move for two weeks and had a painfully slow battle to walk again.
‘I had to give up my career, as furniture and fabric are often infused with formaldehyde,’ she says. ‘I struggled to find jobs that wouldn’t expose me to it. I worked as a receptionist for a dentist for a while, but they used formaldehyde and so I had to quit.
‘People don’t realise how this chemical pervades their lives. And while small amounts in one product might not cause them to react, they should consider what the cumulative effect is when everything, including the clothes on their backs, is pervaded with it.’
But formaldehyde isn’t the only concern. In August last year, Greenpeace published a report, Dirty Laundry 2, revealing it had detected traces of toxic chemicals — specifically nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs) — in products made by 14 big-brand clothing manufacturers, including Adidas and H&M.
Samantha, pictured with some of the medicine she uses to treat her allergies, said: ¿I now have most of my clothes donated from friends and family. That way, I know they have been washed multiple times’NPEs have been commonly used as detergents in the textile industry. Their use is restricted throughout Europe, but since most big brands are produced abroad where no such regulations exist, our clothes can still carry them.
Some experts believe that, even at low levels, these toxins represent a threat to the environment and human health. Again, there is a suggestion they could be linked to certain cancers.
‘It’s when this chemical comes into contact with water that it degrades and become hazardous, says Dominic Thompson from Greenpeace. ‘It’s bio-accumulative which means that it builds up in your body. We don’t fully know what the consequences of that will be.’
Dr Brian Clement, who co-authored the book Killer Clothes, agrees: ‘Over the past 60 years there has been a significant increase in health problems that may be associated with wearing synthetics.’
He says synthetic clothes contain toxins including brominated flame retardants and perfluorinated chemicals which are classified as cancer-causing by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Trichloroethylene, another chemical commonly used by manufacturers, is also classified as a carcinogen.
WHO KNEW?
One in three of the UK population suffers from allergies at some point in their life
These toxins have been linked to dermatitis, allergic reactions and can even contribute to infertility, he says.
Another chemical that can cause problems is p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), used in black clothing and to dye leather.
Samantha Devlin, 33, is so allergic to it that she has been forced to quit two jobs. Her problems began when she got a job in a hairdressing salon as a teenager. ‘I was mixing dye all the time and I began to get dermatitis — constantly itchy skin, sometimes with weeping sores. I’d never had any allergies as a child.
‘I had hospital tests and they told me I was allergic to PPD. I stopped working with dye at the salon but the problem didn’t improve. In fact, when I was 19, I ended up in hospital with my fingers swollen like a bunch of bananas.
‘It was then a nurse told me that I should change career. She said that if any PPD got into my bloodstream I could suffer anaphylactic shock and that if I stayed in hairdressing I could be dead by the age of 21.’
Merlene Paul said: ‘People don’t realise how this chemical pervades their lives. And while small amounts in one product might not cause them to react, they should consider what the cumulative effect is’But her next job, as a croupier, was no better, thanks to the black uniform she had to wear — black dye contains more PPD than any other colour — so she had to leave.
‘It’s been really difficult,’ says Samantha, from Luton, Beds. ‘I now have most of my clothes donated from friends and family. That way, I know they have been washed multiple times and probably won’t cause me problems. I’d love to be able to wear some sexy shoes and a little black dress without thinking about it, but I can’t.’
Yvonne Simon, a 35-year-old fashion choreographer from Southend-on-Sea, suffers similarly. ‘I bought a leather jacket when I was 18. It made my face swell up and turn grey. Around the same time, I bought a cheap denim jacket that gave me a rash on my neck that lasted for weeks.
‘It was then I discovered I’m very sensitive to the dyes in clothes. Later, when I was 26, I was diagnosed with reactive hyperplasia, a condition of the lymph glands which means I swell up when I encounter something I’m allergic to.
‘So I have to be very careful about what I wear. I can’t touch dark clothes in shops without wearing gloves. I stick to light-coloured clothes in natural fabrics like cotton.’
In fact, there’s a whole list of horrors in our clothes.
Elizabeth Salter Green, director of the campaigning body CHEM Trust, warns against phthalates, which are used to make plastic more flexible and resilient.
She says: ‘Phthalates, which are linked with hormone disruption — such as reducing male sperm count — are found in many clothes with plastic logos on. Also, many new shoes and clothes have a strong, plasticky smell which can indicate they are full of phthalates.
‘Perfluorinated chemicals used to make some breathable fabrics are also dangerous — they accumulate in the body and are known to be carcinogenic.
‘And fabric treated with brominated flame retardant, like that very widely used to make children’s sleepwear, is also a worry. It’s been shown in studies with rats to diminish brain capacity.’
Those concerned should seek out one of the burgeoning number of organic fashion brands or consider embracing vintage fashion.
Last night, Adidas and H&M told the Mail they were committed to removing hazardous chemicals from their supply chain by 2020.
*****
Readers: I don’t know about you but if the above doesn’t inspire you to now inspect your clothing labels like you inspect your food labels to stay healthy, I don’t know what will. Toxic clothing is more than just a “yuk!” of a smell – it is dangerous and lethal to our health. Another reason not to buy products made in China. One way to get our manufacturers to stop producing goods for us in toxic China is to stop buying anything made in toxic China. Hit ‘em where it hurts.
/SB: I think it is wonderful that you and your mother are very close. Let me clarify that my mother and I are very close too. I love our relationship and I feel very lucky to have such a good relationship with her as well. But talking daily has never been a part of our lives, and I don’t think it will be. I like not being in communication for awhile (usually no more than a week or so) and then getting together and sharing all that we have been up to. But my opinion is, do whatever works for both, and hopefully both parties are satisfied and happy.
Sandra: Thanks for your comment. I’ll get back to you with my response later.
Chloe: Thanks for sharing your personal story. I’m happy that you are close with your mom and that she was inspired…and now a “staunch advocate for women’s rights”. So cool.
Zen Lill: Thanks for sharing your personal story too. And although, I am aware that the relationship between you and your mom is not that close, it’s nice to know that you still contact her weekly. Your older BFF/mom/ma sounds like a fun woman.
Hi Melanie: I love when new readers join us here. Thanks too for sharing and I welcome you and your daughters to my blog. I look forward to seeing more comments from all of you.
Got to run. The blog is open. Say what is on your mind. Blog me.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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July 23rd, 2012 at 10:46 am
What Your “Animal Type” Says About You
People love to describe others by comparing them to animals. Someone who is graceful is like a cat…if you are fiercely determined, you are a bulldog…conformity makes you a lemming…and stubbornness, a mule.
As you can see, it’s not so much about how we look—it’s about how we act. And how we act is what determines whether or not we accomplish our goals, whether that means being less impulsive and saving more money, overcoming shyness, being a more patient and thoughtful friend or whatever we’re trying to achieve, according to life coach and regular Daily Health News contributor Lauren Zander.
So I want to ask you today—have you ever considered what sort of animal describes you?
Don’t worry—whichever “animal type” you are, you’re not necessarily stuck with it. Focusing on a new one can help you get what you want out of life. For instance, if you tend to be fearful—a chicken—and you’re trying to find a new job, then thinking of yourself as a lion might help. And you don’t have to be as wise as an owl to master this technique.
WHAT’S YOUR ANIMAL TYPE?
The first task, says Zander, is to determine your current animal type. How would your friends describe you? Go ahead and ask them, if it helps!
Pick one to five traits that define you, and then think of which animal those best match. Maybe people would call you a deer because you’re skittish.
Or perhaps you’re more like a bull—strong and confident but at times stubborn and confrontational. Or you might be as loyal as a puppy.
Now give some deep thought as to whether that “animal type” serves you well. What goals are you currently trying to achieve? And is your animal type helping or hurting? If it could be hurting you in certain situations, then it may be time to imagine yourself as a different type of animal.
TRADING TRAITS
For instance, maybe you are a lion—someone who takes charge and is effective. Perhaps those traits keep you disciplined and allow you to clean the house until it sparkles every week, but you’re having trouble showing your warmer, more playful side around your children or grandchildren.
How to change this:
The next time you are around the little ones, think to yourself, Right now I’m not going to be a lion. I’m going to be a monkey—a creature that is always up for fun.
Another example:
Let’s say that your general nature is to be a people-pleaser…even docile…basically, a sheep. While this shields you from controversy, it unfortunately also means that your opinions tend to be drowned out and ignored. Not good!
Better:
In social or professional situations where your interests really are at stake, make a conscious decision to imagine yourself as an elephant, says Zander—an animal that makes a physical statement when it walks into a room and surely isn’t afraid to speak up!
Here are some other ways to switch. If you’re…
A busy mom who feels overwhelmed:
Picture yourself as a terrier who never runs out of energy and can change directions instantly.
Wired and need to relax:
Become a cat, stretching languorously and lying down for a rest on the couch.
Hoping to seem more intriguing and not be taken for granted: Try thinking of yourself as a fox—intelligent, a little unpredictable and definitely not clingy.
Snapping out of a bad mood: How about being a hummingbird, flitting from blossom to blossom, while chirping cheerily?
AFTER YOU CHOOSE YOUR NEW ANIMAL
Once you decide on an animal that can be the most help to you, read up on it, post pictures of it in your home, make a collage of the animal in action and/or make a photo of that animal your “wallpaper” on your laptop, tablet or phone, so it’ll serve as a constant reminder.
“An animal strategy is a fun way to think outside the box, using the power of your mind to enhance the quality of your life,” says Zander.
Source: Lauren Zander, cofounder and chairman, The Handel Group, New York City. http://www.HandelGroup.com
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:09 am
I heard what the NCAA did to PSU. I think they hit the right level of punishment.
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:19 am
Great Michelle- another thing that is messed up with this planet.
How do these pigs sleep at night knowing the damage they are causing to the planet and the harm to innocent human beings?
July 23rd, 2012 at 11:40 am
Hi Mischa,
Thanks for acknowledging my rel with my mother bc I think it’s an important few distinctions to make for girls/women, 1. we don’t always have to be ‘parented’ by our parent of origin, I LOVE my older than me though younger than my real mother (she’s my ‘mom’ and bestie, too, a great 2fer and she always says in her top 5 peeps, I rank #1 for several years running so she’s obviously enjoying the reli as much as I do) and 2. you can still very much LOVE a parent that doesn’t suit/fit you so well, we have sweet convos, mostly about my girl and my father (who is gone as long as my girl has been alive, he transitioned out 11 days before her birth), and she is willing to do anything within her power to love me, her ‘power’ however is limited and that’s mostly a worldview issue and then it’s a handling of a daughter who is quite a handful, she’s very placid and has a hard time with a female like me : ) I just wanted to make the point bc I know some can make some case of ‘not being parented well’ or ‘too bad she doesn’t have a good mother’ thing, I believe we get exactly what we need and it certainly has assisted me in my growth and that’s what all reli’s are for, not for happiness, or anything else, just growth…and that is why we have to transition away from some. No growth, lack of mutual growth, etc…by the way, when you announced you were now ‘official’ last week, I had to face the fact that after almost 4 years I am still not.at.all official, so thank you for sharing that intimate info, it may have been the words I needed to hear to prompt me to make my move, I was simply ignoring the imminent, it’s in motion now, I think we both needed to ‘tie a bow’ on it…(what a procrastinator, right?!)
re: today’s post – I stopped progressing (opening salon, etc…) as a hairstylist many years ago when I started to react badly to dye/straightening chemicals, restricted throat and itchy hands all the time, and just yesterday a friend used bleach in another room and I reacted badly, eyes watering and sneezing violently, I ran out of there so fast…now I remember why I employ a housekeeping service and try to stay away while they’re here, I cannot handle it and I have them use mild stuff if anything, I still use the tersano lotus water filter that the aliens suggested 4 years ago (Target online sells it still) for cleaning surfaces. I’m surprised I haven’t abreacted to clothes as much.
Larry, good luck in Palermo. Are you, MikeTm and Anonz a triad in some way? Stay safe whatever it is your doing. In any event, you will always find me here busy being famous (I NEVER think of myself that way, though thanks for the moment of ‘fame’ idea).
Luv, Zen Lill
July 23rd, 2012 at 2:52 pm
Who needs a rifle that fires a 100 rounds a minute to hunt deer? It is a white man’s neurosis. He needs something to compensate for his feeling of having an inadequate penis size. Big guns that fire an incredible amount of bullets works very well to compensate the tiny penis men.
As soon as OTWs start buying assault weapons and killing white people that law will change so fast our heads will spin.
I await the day when terrorist come here and buy the guns and ammo they need right here. I just hope that they have good aim. It would be a shame if they killed innocent OTWs.
If terrorist are out there,and are reading this, you can see that you don’t need to smuggle anything into this country.
Just come as tourist, buy all the guns and ammo you need here to do your dastardly deeds. But Please take target practice lessons before you get here so that your aim is true and you only kill white americans.
Most of the rest of us support the right to bear arms, but reasonable arms, NOT weapons that are bought just for the purpose of killing a lot of people, or to support a small penis neurosis.
Hence, if your aim is to terrorize the citizens kill the whites, and we OTWs will respond with the appropriate horror that comes with multiple deaths.
Follow James Holmes’s example. Kill only whites.
Now those of you that are appalled that an american citizen could say what I am saying, I put to you this question.
Is an American any the less dead if he is killed by a white assault toting murderer? You white bastards are presently supporting those white terrorist by passing laws permitting them to buy those weapons at will.
How is that any more patriotic than me suggesting that non white terrorist use those same laws to kill only white americans.
Before any of you hypocrites object, I suggest you examine the logic of a law that allows insane white boys to continue to kill the rest of us at will.
Barbara
July 23rd, 2012 at 4:15 pm
The problem with toxic chemicals is that they are everywhere, like that new car smell and one of the worst healthwise, carpet (the foam underneath is especially toxic and is widely used in the US. Manufacturers have until 2021 to correct it). And, don’t forget that lovely perfume you may be wearing is loaded with phalates (just like your shampoo, etc.) It’s hard to escape. One cannot simply just accept that whatever they are buying is safe. You must be really vigilant.
/SB
July 23rd, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Barbara, have you seen or heard this bit below by the comedian Chris Rock? It must have been part of his routine prior to the movie theatre shooting, or surely that event would be included too.
“They keep trying to scare us. They keep telling us to be on the lookout for Al-Qaeda. I ain’t scared of Al-Qaeda! I’m from Brooklyn… I don’t give a fuck about Al-Qaeda! Mother fuck Al-Qaeda. Did Al-Qaeda blow up the building in Oklahoma? NO! Did Al-Qaeda put anthrax in your mail? NO! Did Al-Qaeda drag James Byrd into the street til his eyes popped out of his fuckin’ head? NO! I ain’t scared of Al-Qaeda! I’m scared of Al-Cracka!
He’s got a point.
/SB
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Barbara, you have only stated the obvious. Those who adamantly defend the whole gun thing are either making money from them, have a thirst for killing animals, or have bought into the NRA’s propaganda sermons about needing to protect yourself from the government and all of that…ie: paranoia culture.
The rest are tiny dick white men like my husband who absolutely need something to make them feel like men. For now his gun toys will do.
Gwen
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:50 pm
People seem to forget that the NRA has developed into a professional lobbying organization funded in part by gun manufacturers who profit from the push to politicize gun ownership.
They push for gun sales to increase their profits without regard for the effects on society.
The GOP is pushing for restrictions on voting but say nothing about requiring any new restrictions on Internet sales of ammo or possibly guns, there should be as many requirements to have a gun as there are to have an automobile.
License, insurance, registration, training, and renewal requirements.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:51 pm
We consider ourselves a God-fearing people. but there is one god we worship blindly: the gun. We are even willing to offer it thousands of human sacrifices every hour – 3 deaths a day, every day, every week, every year.
How can anyone justify the readily availability of these weapons of mass destructions? How can anyone justify the need to buy 6,000 rounds of ammunition?
Goddamn the NRA and the gun worshippers out there. In America today, the right to bear arms most suitable for a terrorist attack trumps everybody’s right to feel safe in public places, at our work places, at our schools. America has gone mad.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:53 pm
You liberals are fucking crazy. Guns dont kill people, unstable lunatic criminals kill people. It is like saying cigarettes kill people, but people who smoke them are innocent. Or cars kill people, not the drunk driving criminals. What a nonsensical argument !
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:53 pm
guns dont kill people, unstable lunatic criminals kill people Mr. Moyers. It is like saying cigarettes kill people, but people who smoke them are innocent. Or cars kill people, not the drunk driving criminals. What a nonsensical argument !
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Ditto Ray!!
I wonder if these liberals would want to ban cars if this wacko went on a car rampage!
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:57 pm
We will always have crazy people. We need to make getting these assault weapons more difficult, if not illegal.
It’s really horrible that he could just buy these online without a background check.
If we don’t regulate the gun industry more carefully, this is only going to happen repeatedly.
You know some crazy person, right now, wants to outdo this crazy person.
July 23rd, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Ray, People who are reckless with cars lose their licenses. They are tested by the state in the use of those vehicles. They must follow rules in using their cars or they can lose the use of them. They must keep them licensed and insured, thus they pay fees every year or they don’t drive.
We don’t require as much from people buying guns as we do for driving a car.
July 23rd, 2012 at 6:04 pm
Happy Monday. I hope everyone had a nice weekend.
Here is what we are working on:
5 ways to get America working again: Our cover issue this week is from David. He interviewed several economists and thinkers who gave their opinions on five sure-fire ways to get the economy back on track.
Greenpeace protest in the Arctic to wreak environmental havoc: From Audrey this morning and in print, the latest in environmental craziness from Greenpeace: “Lawmakers say government must deal with the submarines, ice-cutter and drone that will be deployed by environmentalists; Coast Guard to set up a safety zone.”
Virginia’s Goode could be Romney’s undoing: John’s great story from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Looks like a former congressman could play spoiler in Nov. if he gets on the presidential ballot.
Plus, many links from around the web, including more updates on the Aurora tragedy and news from State College, Pa.
-Adam
July 23rd, 2012 at 7:40 pm
I’m new too MIchelle. I got hooked about 2 weeks ago. No one told me about it. I was searching UFO subject matter and there you were.
September 26th, 2012 at 3:29 pm
Thanks for finally writing about > Michelle Moquin’s “A day in the life of” Blog Archive Whats In Your Clothing? < Liked it!