5. Residues of pesticides and herbicides

In agriculture, during the cultivation and storage of natural fibres like cotton, linen, jute etc. pesticides are used to protect the fibres from insect, moths etc. Herbicides, which are defoliant chemicals, are used to eradication of weeds. The fibres could absorb these chemicals and this would continue to present in the product till to the finishing stage, though most of them might have been removed during the manufacturing process. More than 20 varieties of pesticides and herbicides have the characteristics of harming like aldrine, DDD, DDE, carbaryl, DDT, dieldrine, endosulfan, endrine, heptachlor, heptachloroepoxide, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, methoxychlor, trifluralin etc. The residue of these pesticides and herbicides are rated from slightly to strongly toxic to human and sometimes are very easily absorbed through skin. The pesticide Lindane has the property of causing cancer.

6. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) and 2,3,5,6 Tetrachlorophenol (TeCP)

Textile products are tend to get attacked by fungi causes mould spots and to prevent this sometimes chlorinated phenols like PCP and TeCP are applied. These chemicals are very toxic and which can cause cancer to human. As these chemicals are highly stable and not easily decomposable, which remain harmful to human and the environment.

7. PVC Plasticizers-Phthalates

Softened PVC is used in some processes in textile wet processing particularly in printing because of their flexibility and feasibility. In order to make PVC soften, plasticizers are used and the most popular plasticizers are phthalates. Considerable quantities of phthalates can be released under stimulated mouthing conditions, which would be hazardous to young children particularly below 3 years of age. So European Union has banned phthalates in some children products.

8. Organic compounds

Organic compounds such as Tributyltin (TBT) and Dibutyltin (DBT) are commonly used in textile industry for various purposes. TBT is mainly used in anti-bacterial or anti-microbial finishing to prevent the bacterial degradation which would cause sweating and consequent odour it produces in socks, shoes etc. Dibutyltin is always used in finishing which acts as an intermediate for stabilization of PVC, catalyst for paints and in manufacturing of different types of polyurethanes. These are also toxic substances and when they are used at high concentration, can be absorbed through the skin and may affect the nervous system.

9. Azo/Carcinogenic/ Allergic dyes

Azo dyes are synthetic dyestuffs which contains the azoic group in their chemical structure are commonly used in textiles and under certain conditions the azoic groups may separate to produce carcinogenic and allergenic aromatic amines. Also some other dyestuffs for example 20 disperse dyestuffs are found to be allergenic and another 7 disperse dyestuffs are found La be carcinogenie. These dyes may be absorbed through the skins with prolonged skin contact.

10. Chlorinated organic carrier

These chemicals are used in textile dyeing particularly in dyeing of polyester with disperse dyes as auxiliaries. These chemical groups are harmful and may cause liver failure, irritation to mucus membranes, the skin, and may also cause reproductive disorders.