The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has begun
testing for excessive levels of formaldehyde in a range of clothing,
following alarming findings by the New Zealand media.
Scientists from New Zealand consumer affairs program Target showed that
some woollen and cotton clothes imported from China contained up to 900
times the acceptable level of formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is commonly used in the production of textiles and clothing.
Contact with residual of the chemical can cause short-term symptoms such
as skin and respiratory irritations. Long-term health affects from
excessive exposure to formaldehyde can be more serious, as has it has been
classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a known
carcinogen. Continue reading ‘ACCC tests clothing for carcinogens’