Guest post by Ryan Overton DC. Chiropractor of Columbus
Are your clothes making your family sick?
Greenpeace recently tested clothing from 14 top brand manufacturers and found that two-thirds of the samples contained a hormone-disrupting chemical that could be making you sick.
The researchers bought 78 samples of clothing, made primarily in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines but sold throughout the world, sporting famous labels like Adidas, Uniqlo, Calvin Klein, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Lacoste, Converse and Ralph Lauren.
When they tested the samples, they found traces of chemicals known as nonylphenol ethoxylates – which are used as detergents in the production of natural and synthetic textiles.
How are nonylphenol ethoxylates harmful?
When nonylphenol ethoxylates break down, they form nonylphenol. Nonylphenol is a hormone disruptor that mimics female hormones. It has been linked to “feminization” of male fish in parts of Europe and to the disruption of hormonal processes in some mammals.
Nonylphenol ethoxylates are toxic and persistent – once you’ve ingested or absorbed it, it’s almost impossible to get rid of.
According to Greenpeace, nonylphenol ethoxylates and their break-down by-products like nonylphenol are dangerous to both human health and the environment in even very small amounts, which is why their usage is restricted in Europe.
However, since nonylphenol ethoxylates are released from our clothing whenever they go through the wash, even countries that have banned–or restricted– their usage are being poisoned.
Nonylphenol ethoxylates are not banned in the U.S. Unfortunately; the U.S. is often years behind other countries when it comes to testing and appropriate restriction of chemicals. Phthalates, for example, the chemicals that turn PVC into the more pliable vinyl, have been banned in Europe for over a decade. A couple of years ago, the U.S. government banned three of the eight types of phthalates (the others are still ‘under investigation’) in some children’s products, but not in anything used for older children or adults. Phthalates are also hormone disruptors and are suspected of causing early puberty and abnormal development in children, among other things.
What can you do about nonylphenol ethoxylates?
Check with the various brands of clothing that you prefer to see if they use detergent that contains these chemicals. If so, tell them they need to find another solution and that you will not buy their products until they do. Then buy another brand.
It will take some research, but with all the toxic chemicals in our environment and our households, we don’t need one more adding to our toxic burden.
