Children’s skin is in contact almost 24 hours with all kinds of textiles in the clothing. Therefore, it is important
to consider this fact also from a health standpoint.
The Fibres – Potential Health Effects
It comes to materials as wool, silk, cotton, linen and synthetic fibres. They are not poisonous. Allergic reactions are very rare. Of course, woollen fabrics can scratch the child’s skin, but the irritation is not a true allergy. Health problems can be caused by allergic reactions to ink residues and by the consumption of residues in children’s clothing. However, intact skin can be just fat-soluble substances pass. The most used agents are the fat insoluble. In cotton cultivation, the use of fertilizers and pesticides also is necessary. Much of the world consumption of fertilizers and pesticides goes into the production of cotton.
The children’s T-shirt has gone through many processing steps. Therefore, experts believe that are no longer present serious amounts harmful substances from pesticides or fertilizers. The same goes for clothing made of wool, silk, linen and synthetic fibres. From an environmental perspective, the use of conventional organic clothing is preferable.
Transportation
Many textile manufacturers have their products manufactured abroad. Natural fibres such as cotton, linen and silk must be protected against mould and insects. For this, they are packed in wooden crates that are treated with wood preservatives. Some children’s clothes are impregnated with agents against moths. If clothing has a strong smell, which may indicate remnants of insect repellents.
Dyeing
Depending on the type of fibre /cotton, wool, silk, synthetic fibre/ there are different staining techniques and different colorants. Particularly durable are the colours that stain the fibre by chemical reactions. Other colours adhere to the fibre or fibres are deposited in the cavities. These can be separated easily. Some of the colours are fat-soluble and can migrate into the skin. It is known that some dyes from the group of so-called azo dyes can cause cancer. In some countries, the use of these colours is prohibited. Clothing that has been treated with these colours may not be sold in these countries.
Other dyes can trigger allergies. Children with sensitive skin should not wear underwear dark or dark tights. There are some 3000 dyes can be mixed with each other. Therefore, it is almost impossible to figure out which dye has triggered an allergy.