{"id":10964,"date":"2024-05-19T16:47:01","date_gmt":"2024-05-19T16:47:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.leapisani.si\/kaksna-oblacila-so-skodljiva-in-kako-se-zascititi\/"},"modified":"2025-08-05T11:41:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-05T11:41:56","slug":"kaksna-oblacila-so-skodljiva-in-kako-se-zascititi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.leapisani.si\/en\/kaksna-oblacila-so-skodljiva-in-kako-se-zascititi\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Recognise Harmful Clothing \u2013 and Protect Yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"

The textile industry is one of the world\u2019s largest polluters and water consumers. Producing a single cotton T-shirt requires\u00a02,700 litres of water<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a030\u201350 different chemicals<\/strong>\u00a0for fabric processing. A pair of jeans takes\u00a01 kg of cotton<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a08,500 litres of water<\/strong>. By 2030, half of the world\u2019s population will live in areas with polluted water.<\/p>\n

Why Can Clothing Be Harmful?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Garments labelled\u00a0easy-care<\/em>,\u00a0no-iron<\/em>,\u00a0wash and wear<\/em>,\u00a0wrinkle resistant<\/em>, or\u00a0wrinkle free<\/em>\u00a0often contain high levels of potentially carcinogenic\u00a0formaldehyde<\/strong>\u2014most commonly found in shirts. If a shirt is made from high-quality, long-fibre cotton (such as Egyptian\u00a0mako<\/em>\u00a0or American\u00a0sea island<\/em>), it is far less likely to be harmful. Such fabrics naturally wrinkle less due to their superior quality and advanced processing techniques. Cheaper shirts made from short-fibre cotton are much more prone to creasing. Manufacturers often correct this by adding special chemical treatments\u2014some of which can be toxic.<\/p>\n

Products from China and Southeast Asia<\/span><\/h3>\n

When buying clothing online from\u00a0China or Southeast Asia<\/strong>, you may unknowingly be exposed to harmful chemicals. Many substances enter the EU through imported products that are not fully regulated under EU law. Formaldehyde is also present in synthetic fibres and is used to protect garments from mould during long overseas transport. Shipments are often treated with\u00a0dimethyl fumarate<\/strong>\u00a0to prevent damage. Other hazardous substances include\u00a0nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 harmful to aquatic life and human health,\u00a0azo dyes<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 which can release carcinogenic aromatic amines, heavy metal pigments,\u00a0phthalates<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 hormone disruptors often found in prints on children\u2019s clothing, and brominated flame retardants linked to health risks and environmental harm.<\/p>\n

What Happens When We Wear Such Clothes?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Toxins can pass through the skin and harm the nervous system, disrupt hormones and reproductive health, cause cancer, trigger skin allergies, and affect the respiratory system.<\/p>\n

How to Protect Yourself<\/span><\/h3>\n

Wash before wearing \u2013 Many harmful substances can be removed through washing. Wash new clothes\u00a0three times<\/strong>\u00a0before first use. Factories often skip thorough final rinsing to save costs. Avoid \u201cno-iron\u201d labels \u2013 These often indicate chemical treatments. Be cautious with dry cleaning \u2013 Many unregulated dry cleaners use\u00a0perchloroethylene<\/strong>, a toxic solvent linked to respiratory and eye irritation. Don\u2019t rely on smell alone \u2013 While strong chemical odours can be a warning sign, some harmful chemicals are odourless.<\/p>\n

What You Can Do<\/span><\/h3>\n

Buy mindfully \u2013 Choose fewer, better-quality items. Increase your price bracket \u2013 Higher-quality fabrics and production often mean fewer chemical treatments. Return mistakes \u2013 If you\u2019ve bought something unsuitable, take it back. Donate unused clothes \u2013 Pass on what you don\u2019t wear. Don\u2019t hoard \u2013 If you regularly wear everything you own, regardless of price point, you\u2019re already being kinder to the planet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The textile industry is one of the world\u2019s largest polluters and water consumers. Producing a single cotton T-shirt requires\u00a02,700 litres of water\u00a0and\u00a030\u201350 different chemicals\u00a0for fabric processing. A […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10323,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[80],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Recognise Harmful Clothing \u2013 and Protect Yourself - Lea Pisani<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.leapisani.si\/en\/kaksna-oblacila-so-skodljiva-in-kako-se-zascititi\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Recognise Harmful Clothing \u2013 and Protect Yourself - Lea Pisani\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The textile industry is one of the world\u2019s largest polluters and water consumers. 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