New study: Children’s clothing contains chemicals not covered by current regulations

Children’s clothing sold on the Swedish market largely complies with current chemical regulations. However a new study from Stockholm University, carried out as part of the Mistra SafeChem research programme led by the IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, also shows that several chemical substances not covered by the legislation are present in the garments.

The researchers analyzed 60 items of children’s clothing purchased on the Swedish market, and checked for the presence of 50 textile-related chemicals. All the garments complied with current EU regulations, but the study also identified several substances that are not currently regulated. These substances included chemicals that may be used in the dyeing of textiles. The findings illustrate that there are still substances in clothing that fall outside current legislation and which need to be studied further.

The fact that we found substances not covered by current legislation shows that we need to continue developing methods and learning more about the chemicals present in textiles. We also need to improve our understanding of product safety and sustainability throughout their life cycle, says Patrik Andersson, programme director at Mistra SafeChem.

Clear differences between polyester and cotton

The study also reveals significant differences between materials. Dark garments made of synthetic materials, particularly polyester, generally contained more chemicals and higher levels of chemicals than light-coloured cotton garments. And when the researchers studied how washing affects chemical levels, they found that washing removes chemicals significantly more effectively from cotton than from polyester. In several polyester garments, many of the identified substances remained even after repeated washes.

The results show that the choice of materials has a significant impact on which chemicals are present in textiles and how long they remain in the material. They also highlight the complexity involved in developing safer and more sustainable materials, and the need for interdisciplinary approaches, says Patrik Andersson

The article: Occurrence and washout of health-hazardous chemicals in children’s clothing External link, opens in new window.

For more information, contact:
Patrik Andersson, patrik.andersson@ivl.se, tel. +46 (0)76-127 25 04

The study was conducted by researchers at Stockholm University with support from Mistra SafeChem, Formas and the European Research Council.