Source: Textile Review

Consumers are now much concern about the green activities. They choose products which are non-toxic and cause no harm to both the human society and the environment. This tendency for eco-friendly products has been extended to textile and apparel products, particularly those products which directly come in to contact with the skin for prolonged period

Consumers are becoming increasingly very much conscious to environmental friendly consumer goods. They are now much concern about the green activities. They choose products which are non-toxic and cause no harm to both the human society and the environment. This tendency for eco-friendly products has been extended to textile and apparel products, particularly those products which directly come in to contact with the skin for prolonged period of time. These products include clothing, towels, bedding, hats, wigs, diapers and other sanitary products, footwear, gloves, chair covers, toys, watch straps, belts, purses etc.

The buyers from European and U.S have given much consideration to this ecological interest of the people and have established certain requirements from the ecological point for their textile and apparel products. The textile and apparel manufacturers have been instructed to evaluate the each and every stage of the supply chain and life cycle of their products and have been encouraged to minimize the various hazards that those product would pose to the human society. They have been also instructed to give special and careful attention in the selection of dyes and chemicals which are low in formaldehyde content, free from pesticides and heavy metals etc.

1. pH value

pH is a measurement scale to indicate the level of acidity and alkalinity in a product or process. The scale ranges from 1 to 14 where the pH value 7 indicates the neutral condition, below 7 indicates acidic condition and above 7 indicates the alkaline condition. Human skin is having a coating which is slightly acidic, which inhibits the growth of many diseases. Textiles which are having neutral pH level or slightly acidic are friendly to our skin. Textiles with extreme pH level may cause allergy.

2. Formaldehyde

In the easy-care finish of textiles, formaldehyde is used as cross-linking agent along with an artificial resin. This finish is done to avoid shrinkage so that the fabric is given a crease resistant, smooth, dry and soil release finish. The formaldehyde may present in the textile or apparel in resin form or free from. These may cause the release of formaldehyde which could harm human health partially giving strong irritation to mucous' membranes and the respiratory path. Skin inflammation and chances of cancer are also possible because of the formaldehyde content. Many countries have restricted the emission of formaldehyde for many products particularly in textile and apparel.

3. Extractable heavy metals

Certain dyestuffs and chemicals which are used in the textile processing field may contain heavy metals. Sometimes, natural fibres also having the traces of heavy metals which are absorbed by the plants from the artificial fertilizers through soil or air. During the dyeing and finishing process also there is a possibility of heavy metal could be brought in the textile products. The heavy metals which are extractable from the products are Antimony (Sb), Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr) Total, Chromium (Cr) VI, Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), etc.

These metals tend to mount up in the human part like liver, kidney, heart, bones and brain when they are absorbed in to our body from the textile and apparels. The effect on our health can be terrific when the accumulation of heavy metals reaches high level. For example, the nervous system will be affected by high level of mercury. Children tend to absorb the heavy metals more than the adults which put them to higher risk of health problem.

4. Chromium VI

Chromium VI is a by-product created during the leather tanning process which is undesirable. The presence of chromium should be controlled because of its character of strong oxidant and a heavy metal; it can poison the environment and human being.