Toxicity of Textiles #2 Some Chemical finishes on cloth
I hope some of this information helps. It is fifteen years past the time I did my research. Thanks for the space in allowing me to put this out on the board. It may help some understand more about the cloth we use in quilting although in the fifteen years since this was written, I'm sure more information is available. Rosey
FORMALDEHYDE
Formaldehyde has a slightly fishy, pungent odour. In recent years the government regulations have controlled the textile industry in North America in reducing the amount of formaldehyde allowed in the finishing of cloth.Off-shore production is not subject to regulations necessary in North America. Much of our quilt cotton comes from off-shore companies. Formaldehyde is used in cotton and synthetic clothing, bedding and cloth. It can be found in perma-press and durable press finishes, paper products, cleaning solutions, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, newsprint, pesticides, preservatives, antiseptics, deodorants, mildew prevention products and so on. Formaldehyde residues can also be found in auto exhaust, jet fuels, industrial emissions, photochemical smog and in the degassing of urea-formaldehyde products. Exposure to formaldehyde is known to cause a number of health related problems, such as: upper and lower respiratory tract irritations, burning and tearing in the eyes; burning of the mucous membrane system; skin rashes, asthma, headaches, dizziness, mild memory loss; mood disorders, disorientation; gastrointestinal problems and allergic-type reactions to foods as well as to other chemical pollutants in our present day environment.
PERMA PRESS or DURABLE PRESS COTTON CLOTH: In 1964 Durable Press finishes began to be used in cloth. Durable press resins react with cellulose fibres to form crosslinks in the less crystalline areas of cellulose. These resins are polymethylol compounds formed by the reaction of aldehydes with amines. They include: melamine-formaldehyde, demethyloethyleneurea, urons, triazones and so on. Today the most widely used resin is DMDHEU or dimethyloldihydroxethyleneurea.
POLYESTER FIBRES: Polyester is a petroleum based product. (you can do the research into these fibres however, this type of polycotton cloth is seldom used in quilting these days)
THE GENERAL ORDER IN WHICH CLOTH IS FINISHED, TERMS AND MEANINGS:
DESIZING: Sizing finishes are applied to the yarns during the weaving process, particularly to the warp yarns to provide a protective coating for greater strength. Some are water soluble, others, such as oils and waxes, require harsh chemicals to remove them following the weaving process.
SCOURING: This is a process where all the impurities and the sizings are removed from the cloth. Cotton is generally scoured with a dilute solution of sodium hydroxide. Polyester cotton blends require solvents in the scouring process. The most common solvents used are: perchloroethylene, Trichloroethylene, 1.1.1.-trchlorpethane. The scouring process is followed by an alkaline wash and peroxide bleach.
BLEACHING: Hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, sulphur dioxide gas and sodium perborate are used.
SINGEING: This is a mechanical process used to burn the ends of the fibres on the surface of the cloth, creating a smoother surface.
TENTERING: This is a machine process which stretches and straightens the warp and weft or fill yarns after the cleaning and scouring. The cloth is then subjected to a high heat to give stability and shape to the cloth.
MERCERIZATION: This is a process involving the use of caustic soda or sodium hydroxide which gives strength to the cloth, adds lustre and lessens wrinkling.
CALENDERING: This is a mechanical process whereby the cloth is pressed under very hot steel rollers and sheared again for a smoother surface.
SIZINGS: This is a chemical process used to strengthen the cloth. Starch, gums, glues, caseins, gelatins and water-soluble resins are used such as polyvinyl alcohol and polycrylates.
SOFTENERS: These are chemical processes involving the use of various chemical compounds. These resins are most likely to remain in the cloth for the lifetime of that cloth. Several categories are:
Anionic Softeners: Used on cottons in the form of sulphated oils and fatty acid esters. These softeners tend to develop odours as the fats and oils can become rancid. Antioxidents are used to counteract this problem.
Cationic Softeners: used in cottons and cotton polyester broadcloth. They are chemical compounds having anti-static properties.
Nonionic Softeners: Are chemicals which are used as lubricants and which impart antistatic properties and are generally water soluble.
Emulsion Softeners: Are chemical compounds and are not water soluble. These are used in Durable or PermaPress cloth. They are polyethylene, silicones, etc.
Here are one reference book I used in my research:
As defined by the Macropaedia Brittanica, Industrial Chemicals:
Acetamide: Is a solvent, peroxide, stabilizer, wetting agent, penetrating agent. Health hazard: carcinogenic.
Acetic Acid: A methane or carboxylic acid used in the manufacture of acetic anhydride, dyes, pharmaceuticals, textiles, printing. Health hazard: moderately toxic to inhalation, strong irritant to skin.
Acetic Anhydride: Used in dyes, perfumes, explosives, aspirins. Heath hazard: strong irritant, burning.
Acetephonone: Used in perfumes, solvents, pharmaceuticals, resins as a polymerization agent.
Acetyl Bromide: used in dyestuffs. Health hazard: mucous membrane irritant, toxic, strong eye irritant.
Acrysol: Paint thickener, fabric coating, adhesive, warp sizing for fibres, also a starch sizing.
Amino Resins: Used in textile finishings, PermaPress fabrics and as binders for cloth. It is a resin made by the reaction of an amino with an aldehyde, mainly, formaldehyde. Other forms include: dimethylol urea, metholo urea, melamine resins, urea formaldehyde resins.
Pentacholorphenal: Used as a fungicide, bacteriocide, algicide, herbacide and in dyes. Health hazards: skin absorption, toxic by inhalation.
Malaic Anhydride: Dirivative of benzene. Use: polyester resins, pesticides, PermaPress resins in textiles. Heath hazards: irritant to mucous membrane tissues.
Toluene: used widely as a solvent and as a starter chemical for the synthesis of other chemical compounds. A component of crude oil and a bi-product of styrene. Uses: the refinement of gasoline, resins, paints, adheisives, printing materials, glues, solvents, perfumes, dyes, pharmaceuticals, detergents, aviation gasoline. Heath hazard: neurotoxic damage.
REFERENCE MATERIALS
JOSEPH, Marjory L. INTRODUCTORY TEXTILE SCIENCE, fifth edition. Rinehart & Winston, 1986.
HOLLEN, N, SADLER, J., TEXTILES, sixth ed. 1988, Macmillan Pub., Canada LANGFORD, A,
KADOLPH,S.PRICE,A., COHEN, A. FABRIC SCIENCE, sixth ed. 1994. Fairchild Pub. USA
ASHFORD, N., MILLER, C. CHEMICAL EXPOSURES, LOW LEVELS, HIGH STAKES. 1991, VanNostrand Reinhold, USA
HAWLEYS CONDENSED CHEMICAL DICTIONARY 1987, Van Nostrand Reinhold. USA
LANGUAGE GUIDE TO TOXICOLOGY, 1984 Bacchus Press, Berkeley, CA. USA
SOLSTAD, M.A. CHEMICAL HAZARDS IN THE PERFORMING AND STUDIO ARTS, Aug/Sept. Issue, 1994, Chemical Health and Safety.
APODACA, J.K. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF NATURALLY COLOURED AND ORGANICALLY GROWN NICHE COTTONS: Production, Marketing, Processing, retailing: the Natural Fibres Research
And Information Centre, U. of texas, Austin, Texas.
I will post part of my research on the Toxicity of Textiles (#1)
Please bear with me if you are not interested. There are some of us who are affected by the chemical finishes on cloth and I'll edit where I can, the following report. It may help some here. RoseyP in Canada. This is the first section of my research report:
The following questionnaire was sent out to a number of textile converters of quilt cloth:
1. If applicable, please name the chemicals used during the growing process of cotton.
2. If applicable, please list all the names of chemicals used during the cleaning and weaving of the cloth.
3. During the finishing process of cotton cloth please list the names and uses of all chemicals used during this process.
The names of the converters contacted are as follows (late 1980’s);
Cranston VIP PrintWorks, Alexander Henry Fabrics, Gutcheon Patchworks, Inc. Hoffman International
Peter Pan Henry Glass and Co., Springmaid Wamsutta, RJR Fashion Fabrics, Mission Valley Textiles,
Concord House. (note: some of these companies may no longer be in business, Jeff Gutcheon, for example).
Of these, RJR Fabrics and Cranston Print Works were the most forthcoming with their information. Gutcheon Patchworks did not respond to the questionnaire itself. Cranston Print Works response: “the majority of our fabrics are treated with glyoxal resins which help minimize shrinkage and wrinkling after washing. Several types of softeners, including silicone, cationic types and polyethylene are included to enhance the feel of the fabrics” RJR Fabrics responded that “hand builders are often added to make a firmer hand. There are a wider variety of chemical types i.e. starches, polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or acrylics. Some are durable, some semi-durable.
Personal Comment: As so few converters were willing to share their knowledge of chemicals – one even going so far as to say that I did not speak the language of where the cloth was being made (off-shore) therefore they could not communicate with me; another saying that as I was not a chemist I would not understand their terminology; yet another wanted to know who I represented before responding and didn’t. One company on the west coast had a sales representative call me personally, who charmingly explained that she couldn’t divulge the information that I was looking for and confessed that she didn’t know anything about the chemicals or the problems involved but had been asked to call me in response to my questionnaire. I got the proverbial run-around from textile converters. Following this I researched and contacted organic growers of cotton to find what chemicals they did not use in growing, weaving and finishing their natural cottons. I learned more from them than in any direct contact with the quilt textile industry.
Rosey
allergy to fabrics
Good to see Terter's post and that her daughter is doing better.
Like Rosey said, fabrics are one big pile of chemicals. If it's not the dyes, it's the finishes.
Example --- last year, I bought a half-yard of the Oliver+S quilters cotton. At the store it had a lovely 'hand', soft, yummy. I pre-washed it and did not recognize the scratchy, rough
!@#$ that came out of the dryer. All the finishing chemicals were gone.
My fabric/chemical issues aren't contact, but upper respiratory from the out-gassing when the hot iron hits the unwashed fabric. The few times I had a sewing project and no time to pre-wash and iron all that yardage, I can smell the chemicals every time I press a block, etc. I'm talking about Moda fabric, not even the cheap rot-gut fabric Made in XXXXX from big box chain stores.
These sensitivities developed over time, over repeated exposure, until finally my immune system went overboard. I'm 60 y/o and have more allergies now than I had 20 and 30 years ago. Our exposure to various toxic chemicals that enter our body through cosmetics & lotions, foods and even our water, not to mention the environment/air we breathe, etc., gradually wears down the immune system of many (not all) people until our immune system overreacts.
You know what they say: eliminate the middle man.....lol
"Hello", old friends. Had so many computer crashes, I'm unable to climb out of the hole to find you and figure out how to write. Rosey, has been so nice to repost to you all. (There's no charge for reposting...smiling, Rosey)
I gave up quilting in 05' took up knitting, spinning and learning to weave. Worked a few days a week at a local yarn store. Best job ever, could walk to work and earned $$for yarn, classes etc. Then a Pfaff shop came to town....oh I was won over by the macine "something #4". I fell in love and in 2010 took quilting back up again and still knit socks for my family.
NOW MY QUESTION, I HAVE NOT WASHED MY FABRIC, AND FIND NOW MY FINGERS FROM HAND STITCHING ARE ALERGIC TO THE FABIC, any one else have this problem?? (note from Rosey: it's all the chemicals in our cloth. Jeff Gutcheon said years ago, when I was so reactive, that cloth is one big chemical bath from beginning to end).
My son divorced, crushed our family. I still am close to Lynette, she has moved on and met a very nice fellow. Good story here: A young man came to our house to install yet another computer failer. (LOL) and when he left, I told the Silver Fox, "Wow he would be perfect for Nette"...a few months go by and she is having trouble moving on, picking wrong types of guys... I told her "STAND STILL', LET THE FELLOWS COME TO YOU"! She did and met someone. I told both her and son, date 6 mos before bringing them around for us to meet. WELL GUESS WHAT, she stood still and who showed up the "cable guy". When we took them out for her birthday, he later told Nette, "I know those folks, they are super nice". How life has it's turns. Now to have Son settled. He is out of the Sheriff's department and working for the Distict Attorney's office. Keeping busy and dealing with the "bad" guys.
We had Rosemary from England(dodo) and her DH over in 09, Fran and Graham, came last October for a visit. Such fun times with both familes. I'm still with the Sis group that Val started ages ago. We have keep in touch.
Think of some of you I have met at Quilt shows, or the thoughtful messege or giving of a gift that had been sent to me. I love my heart quilts for my Mother in 2000, and Grandpa in May of 05. I think that was the last quilt I finished and then stopped for awhile.
I can be reached at oteribare@yahoo.com,
Hugs, Terer
checkin in
I like those Urban Log Cabin quilts! I've never seen or heard of this pattern before, so I will have to "Google" it.
Our high yesterday was in the mid-forties. I cannot remember the last time we had a high in the 40s in May! It looks and feels like winter, too. Good thing I had not washed and stored my winter parka yet, this year. We also got 1.5" of rain with a little more to come. This, on top of 4" of rain last weekend. We are all trying to not complain, because we'll probably go from this to heat & drought, but, really, enough already with the wet cold Spring weather!
Sandy, I am impressed that your girls listen to you. Sophie takes my commands under advisement and chooses accordingly. She's a spoiled brat, that's for sure. May I send her up to Camp Farmers Walk for Dogs for reform school ... er .... rehabilitation? LOL
I finished a maternity faux-wrap dress and am on the home stretch with a twist top, both for DDIL. She chose print fabrics that are these new fangled ITY knits - a fine poly/lycra jersey type knit - that are very popular right now. They often have up to 70% stretch and drape very nicely. However, they are quite different from quilters cottons. I find it much easier to work with woven cottons because they don't want to stretch and slip around everywhere. (duh), but the stretchy knit works great for maternity clothes and the current fashions.
IRONS - My current fav iron is a Black & Decker D2030 steam iron. I really, really like this one, and bought a second one for the laundry room. It makes good steam and even though it is the first iron I've owned and kept that has auto-shutoff, it reheats very quickly.
