Chemicals in Textiles: Risks to Human Health and the Environment

The Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen) was assigned by the Swedish government to compile available and relevant information about the risks to human health and the environment from hazardous substances in textile articles. The intention of this report is to serve as a base for further work on developing risk reduction measures for hazardous substances in textiles at the EU level. The study includes three main parts:

a. An overview of textile consumption in the EU and Sweden.

b. A screening study with the aim to identify hazardous substances/groups of substances posing a potential risk to human health and the environment.

c. A literature study of data on exposures and effects related to hazardous substances in textiles.