Is your T-shirt poisoning your skin? | Priyanka Ladha | TEDxCSTU

Summary

This talk exposes the hidden dangers of the fashion industry, revealing how everyday clothing is laced with toxic chemicals linked to serious health issues. The speaker, a sustainable fashion entrepreneur, explains how synthetic fabrics like polyester shed microplastics and harmful substances like BPA and PFAS into our bodies. With a call to action, they urge consumers to opt for natural fibers, regulators to enforce stricter safety standards, and the industry to innovate safer materials, advocating for a fashion revolution that's stylish, safe, and sustainable.

Takeaways

• 🔍 The fashion industry uses 25% of global industrial chemical production, posing significant health risks.
• 👕 70% of clothing is made from polyester, which sheds microplastics that can be absorbed by the skin and cause health issues.
• 🌈 Disperse dyes used for polyester are not water-soluble and can lead to the release of toxic chemicals.
• 🚫 The industry often adds harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, and cadmium to clothing.
• 🚼 In 2022, research found children's clothing contained higher levels of lead than permissible.
• 🔄 BPA and phthalates are endocrine disruptors that can mimic hormones and cause a range of health problems.
• 🧥 PFAS chemicals are used for water and stain resistance but are persistent and linked to various diseases.
• 📉 There are only three federal regulations for chemical use in children's clothing, with no regulations for adult clothing.
• 👚 Consumers are advised to avoid clothing with 'anti' promises, opt for natural fibers, and consider organic undergarments.
• 🌍 The fashion industry can learn from the food and makeup industries to develop less toxic products.

Q & A

What is the primary concern raised in the script about the fashion industry?

The script raises concerns about the use of toxic chemicals in the fashion industry that can cause cancer, reproductive issues, respiratory problems, skin diseases, and other health issues.

What is the speaker's background in relation to textiles and fashion?

The speaker has grown up around textiles and artisans since the age of five, thanks to their father who is a textile designer and entrepreneur. They have also started building three sustainable fashion tech companies.

What percentage of global industrial chemical production is used by the fashion industry?

The fashion industry uses 25% of the global industrial chemical production.

Why is polyester a common material in clothing today?

Polyester is used because it is cheap, easy to produce, and ubiquitous. It is essentially plastic and makes up 70% of today's clothing.

What is the issue with microplastics from polyester clothing?

Microplastics from polyester clothing are shed and become part of the air we breathe. They can be absorbed by our skin through sweat, leading to health problems like heart attacks and carrying chemicals and toxins into our bodies.

What are disperse dyes and why are they a concern?

Disperse dyes are chemicals used to color polyester, which are also plastic in nature and do not dissolve in water. They are absorbed into the fabric's molecular component and can be toxic when worn against the skin.

What harmful chemicals are sometimes added to children's clothing, according to the CBC research mentioned?

The CBC research found that children's clothing sometimes contains lead, mercury, and cadmium, with some items having 20% higher lead levels than permissible.

What are BPA and PFA, and why are they problematic?

BPA (Bisphenol A) and PFA (Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are endocrine disruptors that mimic hormonal compounds in our bodies. They can cause havoc in our bodies and are known to cause a range of health issues including thyroid diseases, skin problems, respiratory issues, and various types of cancer.

Why are regulations on chemicals in clothing insufficient according to the script?

There are only three regulations for children's clothing, with no regulations for adult clothing. This lack of regulation means there is no incentive for the industry to adopt healthier practices.

What are some of the solutions proposed in the script to reduce the impact of toxic chemicals in fashion?

The script suggests avoiding clothing with 'anti' promises that likely use PFA coatings, opting for natural fibers like cotton and silk, replacing synthetic undergarments with natural fiber ones, and urging regulators to consider chemical combinations in their safety assessments.

What is the appeal to the fashion industry made by the speaker?

The speaker appeals to the fashion industry to develop products that are more consumer-friendly and less toxic, taking cues from the food and makeup industries that are working on less harmful products.

Outlines

00:00

👗 The Toxic Reality of Fast Fashion

The speaker begins by illustrating the hidden dangers of the fashion industry, comparing the chemicals used in clothing to those found in plastic bottles known to cause various health issues. Growing up around textiles, the speaker has been driven by the question of how to make fashion sustainable and reduce its reliance on toxic chemicals. The fashion industry is highlighted as a major consumer of global industrial chemicals, with 25% of the world's production being used. The speaker aims to raise awareness about how these chemicals are incorporated into our clothing without our knowledge. The first part of the problem is identified as the fabric itself, with 70% of clothing being made from polyester, which is essentially plastic and sheds microplastics that we breathe and absorb through our skin, leading to health issues like heart attacks. The second part of the problem is the use of disperse dyes for polyester, which are also plastic-based and do not dissolve in water, meaning they are absorbed by the fabric and subsequently by our bodies when we wear the clothes. The industry is also criticized for adding harmful chemicals like lead and mercury to clothing, with a 2022 study finding elevated lead levels in children's clothing.

05:02

🚫 The Perils of PFAS and BPA in Clothing

The speaker continues by discussing the presence of BPA and PFAS in clothing, which are endocrine disruptors and 'forever chemicals' respectively. BPA can cause hormonal imbalances, while PFAS are linked to a range of health problems including thyroid diseases, skin issues, respiratory problems, and various types of cancer. Despite the risks, there are only three federal regulations regarding these chemicals, all of which pertain only to children's clothing, leaving adult clothing unregulated. The speaker points out the industry's history of using harmful halogen compounds, shifting from chlorine to bromine and then to fluorine as regulations catch up. To combat these issues, the speaker suggests practical solutions such as avoiding clothing with 'miracle' claims that often involve PFAS, opting for natural fibers, and replacing synthetic undergarments with natural fiber alternatives. An appeal is made to regulators to consider the combined effects of chemicals in clothing and to follow California's example of clear labeling of potentially harmful substances.

10:02

🌍 A Call to Action for a Healthier Fashion Industry

In the final paragraph, the speaker calls for change within the fashion industry, emphasizing its significant global impact and economic power. The industry is encouraged to learn from other sectors like food and makeup that are moving towards less toxic products. The speaker envisions a future where fashion is not only an expression of individuality but also a force for good for the planet, its creators, and its wearers. The speech concludes with a heartfelt plea for the fashion industry to become a part of the solution rather than contributing to the problem of chemical pollution and health risks.

Keywords

💡Toxic chemicals

Toxic chemicals refer to substances that can cause harm or have a negative impact on health when absorbed or ingested. In the context of the video, these chemicals are used in the fashion industry and can lead to various health issues such as cancer, reproductive problems, and respiratory issues. The script mentions that these chemicals are added to clothes without consumers' awareness, making them a significant concern in the theme of the video.

💡Microplastics

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that are shed from synthetic fabrics like polyester. The video explains that these microplastics are not only polluting the environment but also entering our bodies through the air we breathe and the clothes we wear. They can carry harmful chemicals and toxins, contributing to health problems.

💡Polyester

Polyester is a type of synthetic fabric derived from petroleum and is commonly used in clothing due to its low cost and durability. However, as highlighted in the video, polyester is essentially plastic and is responsible for the shedding of microplastics, which can have detrimental effects on human health and the environment.

💡Disperse dyes

Disperse dyes are a type of dye used to color synthetic fabrics like polyester. Unlike natural dyes, they do not dissolve in water and are absorbed into the fabric's molecular structure. The video points out that these dyes can be toxic and are worn directly against the skin, potentially leading to health issues.

💡Heavy metals

Heavy metals such as lead, mercury, and cadmium are toxic elements that can be harmful to human health. The video discusses how these heavy metals are found in clothing, particularly children's clothing, and can cause serious health problems. They are an example of the toxic chemicals used in the fashion industry.

💡Bisphenol A (BPA)

Bisphenol A, or BPA, is an endocrine disruptor known to mimic hormones and interfere with the body's hormonal balance. The video mentions that BPA was found in clothing by the Center for Environmental Health, California, and can cause a range of health issues when it enters the body.

💡PFAS

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals used to make products water, stain, and odor resistant. Often referred to as 'forever chemicals' because they do not break down easily in the environment, PFAS can lead to various health problems, including cancer, as discussed in the video.

💡Regulation

Regulation in the context of the video refers to the legal requirements and restrictions that govern the use of certain chemicals in clothing. The speaker points out that there is a lack of regulation, especially for adult clothing, which allows the fashion industry to continue using harmful chemicals without consequence.

💡Sustainable fashion

Sustainable fashion is an approach to the fashion industry that aims to reduce its negative impact on the environment and human health. The video's speaker has a background in sustainable fashion and discusses ways to make the industry more sustainable, such as using natural fibers and reducing the use of toxic chemicals.

💡Natural fibers

Natural fibers are fibers derived from natural sources like cotton, wool, silk, and linen. The video suggests that these fibers are a less toxic alternative to synthetic fabrics like polyester and should be considered as a more sustainable and healthier option for clothing.

💡Chemical compounds

Chemical compounds are substances formed from two or more elements chemically bonded together. In the video, the speaker discusses how the fashion industry has shifted its use from one harmful chemical compound to another, such as from chlorine to bromine and then to fluorine, to avoid regulation.

Highlights

Most clothing contains chemicals that can cause health issues.

The fashion industry uses 25% of global industrial chemical production.

70% of clothing is made from polyester, which sheds microplastics.

Microplastics can be absorbed by the skin and cause health problems.

Disperse dyes used for polyester are not water-soluble and are toxic.

The fashion industry adds harmful chemicals like lead and mercury to clothing.

Children's clothing has been found to contain higher levels of lead.

Bisphenol A (BPA) disrupts hormonal balance and can cause various health issues.

PFAS are 'Forever chemicals' that persist in the environment and body.

There are only three regulations for chemical use in children's clothing.

The industry shifts to new harmful chemicals when others are banned.

Avoid clothing with claims of being anti-odor, anti-stain, as they may contain PFAS.

Choose natural fibers like cotton, wool, and silk over synthetic materials.

Replace synthetic undergarments with organic natural fiber alternatives.

Regulators should consider chemical combinations in clothing safety limits.

The fashion industry can learn from food and makeup industries to reduce toxins.

Fashion should be an expression of self, not a source of harmful chemicals.

Transcripts

[Music]

today if I were to take these plastic

bottles and then melt them and add a

bunch of scientifically proven chemicals

which causes

cancer reproductive

issues respiratory

problems skin diseases and a whole bunch

of other problems and then mix it up

together boil it and then ask you how

many of you will be willing to touch

this 100% of you said no but what if I

were to tell you that most of us In This

Very Room are not just touching it but

are also wearing it welcome to the toxic

world of fashion industry since the age

of five I've grown up around textiles

and Artisans thanks to my father who's a

textile designer and an

entrepreneur and growing up I've started

building three sustainable fashion tech

companies third one being at stampf all

my life I asked one simple question how

do I make fashion sustainable again how

do I stop the dependency of these toxic

chemicals in the fashion industry

currently fashion industry uses 25% of

the global industrial chemical

production in the world how do we

fundamentally change that so today I

believe the first step to this problem

is awareness and in the next 7 minutes I

want to show all of you how fashion

industry is very cunningly adding all

these chemicals in our clothes right

under our nose and we don't even know it

this is a three parts

recipe fabric Dice and

treatment first up fabric did you know

70% of the clothing today is made out of

polyester AKA plastic it's the same

plastic that is used in these plastic

bottles and the industry uses it because

it's cheap it's easy and it's everywhere

however these polyester clothing is

constantly shedding microplastics so

much so that these microplastics are

then becoming part of the air that we

breathe and Via our skin they are

getting absorbed because of the sweat

taking up microplastics in our body and

creating problems like heart attack

furthermore these microplastics don't go

alone into our body they take with them

a bunch of chemicals in the form of Di

and toxins and that's where the main

problem is this brings us to the second

part of our problem that is the disperse

dice for polyester we cannot use the

regular chemicals which we use for

natural fibers to color them so then the

industry uses dispersed dice these

dispersed dies are also made of the same

molecular composition as the core fabric

that means these are also plastic in

nature these dispers D don't dissolve in

water it basically gets absorbed in its

core molecular component and when we

start wearing polyester fabric we are

practically wearing these toxic

chemicals on our body there are 4,000

plus dispersed dice today in the world

not all of them are toxic and many of

them are not toxic individually but when

you combine them in multiple layers

that's when the core problem begins

along with this the industry is

notorious to add Humanity's favorite

chemicals like lead Mercury cadmium in

our clothing in 2022 CBC did a research

on children's clothing and they found

that cute little Bobby skirts r C

jackets of children had 20% higher lead

level than permissible please remember

that clothes which kids wear they are

not just wearing the clothes but they

are also sucking those clothes by

keeping them in their mouth so what are

we feeding our kids on lead Mercury and

at what cost by

so and with this comes the next part

that is the bpas and the pasas of the

world these are the super villain in

2021 Center for environmental health

California sent notice to 100 plus

clothing brands which had obnoxious

amount of bpas in their clothing be it

socks sports bras and atlea clothing

bpas are a known endocrine disruptor

they mimic the same molecular compound

and the hormonal balance which we have

in our body and so when they start

entering our body via our skin and Via

these plastic compounds they start

creating a Havoc inside our body you

don't require a lot of BPA to do it it's

just one drop in a olympic size swimming

pool that is sufficient to create a

Havoc with bpas then comes their

favorite pfas so every time you get a

jacket which claims to be water

repellent stain resistant anti-odor

anti- wrinkle all of these fake promises

just like your ex there is something

which is nasty going on beneath the

surface and that's coming due to peas

peas are your Forever chemicals they're

not going to die they are like these red

flags of your eggs it's always going to

be there on the face of this planet and

when these beefers enter our body

through the air through microplastics

through our skin precipitation they

create a whole bunch of problems ranging

from thyroid diseases skin problems

respiratory issues cancer colon cancer

breast cancer and a whole bunch of

problems in our body now you might be

thinking why The Regulators are not

doing anything about this as per the

federal government law there are only

three regulations and that to only for

kids clothing there is no regulation for

adult clothing and when there is no

regulation there is no incentive for the

industry to actually adopt healthy

practices and they keep coming up with

new ways of fooling around so if you

look at this periodic table on the

extreme right side you will see a bunch

of chemical compounds or elements called

as halogens around 1930s the industry

started using chlorine it took Decades

of research and court cases when the

industry was finally banned to stop

using chlorine but the moment that

happened the industry then shift to

another hogen compound called as bromine

and when the industry was about to be

banned from using bromine they bought

its cousin Florine which we are

currently using in our manufacturing so

now after hearing to me if all of you

want to run naked outside in Panic

please don't do that we have couple of

solutions over here first up I don't

want you to shed away all your polyester

clothing on day one but what we want you

to do is to start work working in

specific solution orders first whenever

you see these Ultra real kind of

promises from the fashion industry that

is anti-order anti-rent and all bunch of

antis more often than not they are using

a coating of peers in their clothing so

ideally I would recommend you to stop

using those in your day-to-day activity

second look at natural fibers as an

option so make cotton wo silk lenen as

your best friends they are not 100% pure

but they are less toxic than their

synthetic counterparts third I would

encourage you to start changing your

synthetic undergarments and replace it

with the organic natural fiber

undergarments why so is because when we

wear these undergarments which are made

out of polyester spandex composition

they are very close to our body it's

something that we are wearing on a

regular basis and we also tend to sweat

a lot in our intimate areas that becomes

a ready fod for these Fabrics to leash

out a whole bunch of toxic chemicals

into our body next up I have a appeal to

The Regulators when you come up with

these safety limits of chemicals please

don't look at them in isolation each of

these clothing the synthetic fibers use

a combin comination of hundreds to

thousands of

chemicals for one fabric so when you're

looking at these chemicals in isolation

you pretty much don't have an idea as to

how they'll work in combination of each

other so a please start working on more

research second please take example for

what government of California is doing

they came up with prop 65 wherein they

start working with all these clothing

brands and they have been asked to put a

specific label which clearly says that

these products can have cancerous

substances in them next up is for my

beloved industry guys we can do better

every sixth person on this planet is

directly or indirectly related with the

fashion industry it's a $2.5 trillion

economy it's 4.3% of the global GDP and

if we put a m to it we can start

developing products which are more

consumer friendly and we don't have to

think too hard for it we have examples

in the food industry and the makeup

industry which are now working on

developing products which have less

toxin in them which are paraben free

which are sulfate free and we can start

taking cues from that let's make fashion

a piece of art what it is supposed to be

it's an expression of self and let's not

make it into home of chemistry let's

make fashion which is good for the

planet good for the maker and good for

the wearer thank you