L&M UNDERWEAR - WIKI - Carcinogenic and dangerous substances in underwear | EN

Carcinogenic and dangerous substances in underwear

General risks

The quality of underwear should not be underestimated never time. Inappropriate underwear can pose considerable health risks in terms of:

dangerous chemicals

possible injuries due to faulty materials and manufacture procedures

Dangerous chemicals in poor quality underwear

Underwear comes into direct contact with intimate body parts. For this reason, there are increased demands on the processing, quality and wholesomeness of the materials which it is made from. Inappropriate underwear can cause not only allergic reactions but also carcinogenic factors endangering your health.

Dangerous chemicals - division

azo dyes - Azo compounds (azo dyes) formed by coupling of aromatic diazonium salts or by reduction of nitro compounds in alkaline medium. Prolonged contact with a human body can cause carcinogens to start working. According to STN EN 14362-1:2002, STN EN 14362-2:2002, STN EN ISO 17234:2002, the azo dyes, which, as a result of reductive cleavage of one or more azo groups may release one or more aromatic amines in detectable concentrations, i.e. above 30 ppm in the finished articles or in their dyed parts, they may not be used in textile, leather products that may come into direct and prolonged contact with skin or oral cavity.

Disperse dyes - Disperse dyes were originally developed for dying of cellulose acetate and they are insoluble in water. Their main use is to dye polyester as well as nylon, cellulose triacetate and acrylics. Disperse dyes have only low to moderate potential to cause toxicity.

Phthalates - Phthalates, also known as esters of phallic acid, are a group of about 40 chemicals. Some of them do not have a negative impact on human health and the environment, while others are hazardous to human health. Phthalates are mainly used as PVC plasticizers, in cosmetics as insecticides or adhesives. They are also used as an ingredient in dyes. The risk to humans, which can be caused by these chemicals, rests on their negative impact on the hormonal and reproductive system that can weaken the immunity. Their negative impact on liver, kidneys, lungs and blood clotting is also significant. With their increased concentrations in the environment it may associate the increase of asthma and pediatric allergies in children.

formaldehyde - Under normal conditions, pure formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a pungent smell. It is easily soluble in water, alcohols and others solvents. In the industry it is used as a preservative product and disinfectant. In contact with skin formaldehyde may cause dermatitis. Sometimes it takes a few days until symptoms appear. They can include redness, itching, swelling or blistering.

Cadmium - Cadmium is a soft silver-white metal. All cadmium compounds are toxic and carcinogenic even at low concentrations. It is one of the few elements whose effects on human health can be evaluated only as negative. Another risk factor is that it accumulates in the body, since it is excreted from the body very slowly. It is concentrated mostly in the kidneys and to a smaller extent also in the liver. In kidneys it can remain up to ten years.

Chlorobenzene - Chlorobenzene is an aromatic organic compound. It is a colorless flammable liquid used as a solvent in the manufacture of other chemicals. It has toxic and carcinogenic effects and is used in the manufacture of herbicides, dyes and plastics.

Toluene - Toluene is a colorless, noxious liquid that forms an explosive mixture together with the air. It is used to make plastics and artificial sweeteners saccharin and benzoic acid that is used as a preserver in the food chemistry. It gets into the organism through the respiratory tract due to air pollutants from transport, inhalation of contaminated air in the working environment, usage of products that contain toluene and also through the skin and by the consumption of contaminated drinking water. Exposure to toluene causes nausea, fatigue and headache. With prolonged exposure to the organism it causes psychosis, damage of a kidney and liver. Toluene is an addictive substance that damages the respiratory and central nervous system when inhaled.

CAUTION:

The negative impact of hazardous substances does not diminish after repeated washing, dry cleaning, or after any other way of maintenance. In fact, they are part of the dyes or textile fibers. So please be careful when choosing lingerie with which sensitive parts of your body come in direct contact!

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