The Toxic Textile Industry – Why Organically Produced Clothing and Bedding Is Better For the Health of Your Children and Planet

Is Your Baby’s Clothing Toxic?
Last week, I posted an article about body burden testing, research revealing that some of the dangerous chemicals used to make children’s clothing and bedding are absorbed through the skin. The study certainly brought home the benefits of products made from organic cotton colored with natural dyes, particularly for babies and children. The research also made me curious about the impact of the textile industry on our health and the health of the planet. Here’s what I learned.

Textile Chemicals Are Known to Be Bad For Your Health
Many of the chemicals used in textiles are classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as moderately to extremely hazardous, and have been associated genetic mutations, cancer, abnormal hormone levels, birth defects and reproductive problems. Although subjects of most of these studies were bacteria, wildlife or lab animals, the findings certainly suggest that there is at least cause for concern and caution.

So we know that our skin can absorb chemicals in our clothing and that many of the chemicals used in textile production and dangerous. But it’s not just our health that is at risk; the entire process of textile production is a very dirty business that impacts both person and planet.

Textiles Chemicals Pollute the Environment
The use of green-colored dye is about the only green thing that the textile industry has to offer. Production of textiles not only leaves toxins in the finished product but also pollutes the earth while doing so. Flame retardants in clothing, in addition to being absorbed by the skin, persist in the environment, not breaking down for many years. The chemicals added during processing of fabrics is not the only problem, the entire process of growing non-organic cotton unleashes an array of additional toxins into the environment.

How Is Organic Cotton Products Different?
There are now many manufacturers and retailers that sell ecologically produced organic clothing and other textiles; products grown and processed in ways that reduce their environmental impact and safety risk. My next posting will explore how organic cotton clothing and bedding are produced—field to store, and how natural dyes and fire retardants are used to create products that are safer for your family and the earth.

Have you had a bad experience with non-organic textile products? Why not leave a comment and start a discussion?