It turns out that the fabric used to make clothing is doused with all sorts of chemicals. Synthetic fabrics, fabrics dyed with azo dyes, and all fabrics treated to be stain repellant, anti-mold, anti-odor, wrinkle free, easy care, water resistant, flame retardant are the worst. Alden Wicker's book To Dye For: How Toxic Fashion Is Making Us Sick - And How We Can Fight Back discusses this topic in depth.
To give fabric performance qualities, lots of toxic chemicals have to be used, including endocrine disruptors and PFAS. There is no regulation of all the chemicals used on fabrics, which means we are exposed to them when we wear clothing. And yes, people are getting sick from the fabrics, especially if they have to wear them as part of their job. For example, flight attendants and firefighters.
The book is both fascinating and horrifying. I started it one morning and found myself neglecting everything else that day - just reading and reading till I was done that evening. Interesting stories (especially what flight attendants went through with new toxic uniforms), very thorough, things you can do to protect yourself, and lots of references at the end if you want to pursue the topic further.
What you can do: Try to wear natural fabrics (cotton, linen, hemp, wool). Avoid clothes that are stain repellent, anti-mold, anti-odor, wrinkle resistant, and flame retardant. Look for Oeko-Tex and GOTS organic certification, if possible - even though only a limited number of the many toxic chemicals are tested for.
NPR interviewed the author. Some excerpts from NPR: Is 'Toxic Fashion' making us sick? A look at the chemicals lurking in our clothes
In 2018, Delta airlines unveiled new uniforms made of a synthetic-blend fabric. Soon after, flight attendants began to get sick. Alden Wicker explains how toxic chemicals get in clothes in To Dye For. ...continue reading "Toxic Chemicals Are On Many Of the Clothes We Wear"