Many manufacturers, especially fast fashion, use lead acetate to help dyes adhere to clothing. Exposure to lead has a particularly harmful impact on children, and can cause problems with cognitive development.
Brightly colored children’s clothing, sold by fast-fashion and low-cost retailers, can represent a unexpected health riskaccording to new research presented at the American Chemical Society’s spring meeting.
The study found that all parts tested exceeded federal safety limits of the US for lead, a toxic metal known to harm children’s cognitive development.
The research was led by Kamila Deavers, a researcher at Marian University, after her daughter presented elevated lead levels associated with toy coating. Motivated by growing concern about hidden sources of contamination, Deavers and her team of graduate students began examining whether clothing, particularly from fast-fashion brands, could also expose children to lead.
In the United States, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) sets a limit of 100 parts per million (ppm) of lead in products for children. However, when the researchers tested 11 t-shirts in several colors, including red, yellow, pink and blue, all samples exceeded this limit. The most vibrant colors, especially red and yellow, had the highest concentrations, says .
Lead can contaminate clothing through metallic components, such as zippers and buttons, and directly through fabrics. Some manufacturers use lead-based compoundssuch as lead acetate, to help dyes adhere to fabrics and maintain vibrant colors at a low cost.
The study also explored how children can absorb lead through common behaviors such as chewing or sucking on clothes. The researchers simulated stomach conditions to estimate how much lead could enter the body. The results suggest that even short periods with the tissue in the mouth can result in exposure levels that exceed established daily limits.
The team plans to conduct more research to determine whether washing contaminated clothing can spread lead to other items or leave residue in washing machines.
