Auditing Office of the United States Finds Low Levels of Formaldehyde in Clothing
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On September 14, 2010, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report highlighting concerns about formaldehyde levels in textiles and apparel products, as reported by the China Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). The findings raise important questions about consumer safety, particularly regarding the long-term health effects of exposure to this chemical.
Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent-smelling gas that has been classified as a known carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It's also listed under the Air Cleaning Act as a harmful air pollutant. While it's commonly used in medical settings, such as laboratories and mortuaries, formaldehyde is also present in a wide range of consumer goods, including wood products, adhesives, paper coatings, and even fabric treatments. In the textile industry, it's often used to make clothes more wrinkle-resistant, especially in cotton-based materials.
Prolonged contact with clothing containing high levels of formaldehyde can lead to skin irritation, allergic reactions, and even more severe symptoms like dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Despite these risks, the U.S. currently lacks specific limits on formaldehyde content in textiles, although there are strict standards for wood products.
In the GAO study, 180 items were tested, and 94% of the clothing samples had formaldehyde levels below the stringent limits set by 13 countries. These standards include: no detectable formaldehyde in children’s clothing for infants and children under three years old, and a maximum limit of 75 ppm for garments that come into direct contact with the skin of older children or adults. During the test, only 10 items exceeded the limit, with levels ranging from 75.4 ppm to 206.1 ppm. These included three shirts, three pillowcases, two pants, one bed sheet, and one hat, with seven being 100% cotton and three being cotton blends.
The results align closely with previous tests conducted in the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand. In the EU, the pass rate was 96%, while New Zealand reported a 97% pass rate. These findings suggest that the issue of formaldehyde in clothing is not unique to the U.S., but rather a global concern that requires more comprehensive regulation and transparency for consumers.