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Restrict/Label Formaldehyde in Textile Products

Restrict/Label Formaldehyde in Textile Products

Target:
President-Elect Barack Obama
Sponsored by: 

Safbaby.com is urging legislation to restrict the presence of formaldehyde in textile products.  For any clothing articles that do contain formaldehyde, a mandatory label ("contains formaldehyde...") needs to be available for the consumer to know that the presence of this toxic gas is there.

Formaldehyde is strongly suspected of carcinogenic properties and can provoke allergic reactions like irritation of the eyes, skin and the respiratory system. Furthermore, formaldehyde can cause lung oedema and asthma when it is taken up through the respiratory organs.

It is commonly used in the clothing manufacturing industry as a stain resistant mechanism, to resist mildew, to fix color to a fabric, to give a permanent press effect, to stop shrinking and to make fabric more flame resistant. The application of formaldehyde primarily concerns cotton, viscose, linen and their blends with synthetic fibers.

Although Europe and Japan have limits set as to what they will allow for formaldehyde in textiles, the USA does not have ANY safety standard in place.

European Countries like Austria, Finland,  Germany, Norway and Netherlands have laid down national  legislation restricting the presence of formaldehyde in textile products.  The US needs to get with the times here as well.  This needs to be done for the health and well-being of our children and consumers at large.

Safbaby.com is urging legislation to restrict the presence of formaldehyde in textile products.  For any clothing articles that do contain formaldehyde, a mandatory label ("contains formaldehyde...") needs to be available for the consumer to know that the presence of this toxic gas is there.

Formaldehyde is strongly suspected of carcinogenic properties and can provoke allergic reactions like irritation of the eyes, skin and the respiratory system. Furthermore, formaldehyde can cause lung oedema and asthma when it is taken up through the respiratory organs.

It is commonly used in the clothing manufacturing industry as a stain resistant mechanism, to resist mildew, to fix color to a fabric, to give a permanent press effect, to stop shrinking and to make fabric more flame resistant. The application of formaldehyde primarily concerns cotton, viscose, linen and their blends with synthetic fibers.

Although Europe and Japan have limits set as to what they will allow for formaldehyde in textiles, the USA does not have ANY safety standard in place.

European Countries like Austria, Finland,  Germany, Norway and Netherlands have laid down national  legislation restricting the presence of formaldehyde in textile products.  The US needs to get with the times here as well.  This needs to be done for the health and well-being of our children and consumers at large.

Dear President-Elect Obama

We are writing to express our concern about the lack of regulations regarding the dangerous gas, formaldehyde, that hides excessively in textiles in the United States.

European Countries and Japan strictly restrict the presence of formaldehyde in textile products and following label must be added to textiles: "Contains Formaldehyde. It is recommended to wash this garment before the first use to avoid irritation of the skin"

Formaldehyde is strongly suspected of carcinogenic properties and can provoke allergic reactions like irritation of the eyes, skin and the respiratory system. Furthermore, formaldehyde can cause lung oedema and asthma when it is taken up through the respiratory organs.
Our children are especially vulnerable to these toxins!

It's time for the US to take action to restrict and clearly label formaldehyde in textiles. We are urging strict regulations and labeling in children's clothing and bedding.

Thank you for looking into this issue, and for making our children's health and well-being a top priority. 
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We signed the "Restrict/Label Formaldehyde in Textile Products" petition!
# 149:
2:01 am PST, Nov 11, Name not displayed, Australia
It is freightening to think that our most precious little children and babies, the adults of the future. Are being placed in harms way, every single day. They are breathing in dangerous chemicals and nothing has been done to stop this. Clothing for example has massive amounts of formadehyde and yet the government wont put a stop to it. Why? It angers and sadens me as a parent that while other parts of the world are making a change for the better others such as ours are doing nothing!
# 148:
4:18 pm PST, Nov 9, Name not displayed, New York
we should be able to supply our children with what they need without chemicals and deserve to be informed of chemicals in clothing the same as ingrediants in food
# 147:
4:39 am PDT, Oct 19, Margaret Mauser, New York
# 146:
11:11 pm PDT, Oct 9, Jennifer Pagnucci, Illinois
Please restrict formaldehyde in textile products. There are too many chemicals in our products. Please require that all products have to label ALL ingredients/materials so that way consumers can make an informed decision.
# 145:
8:23 pm PDT, Oct 5, Name not displayed, Missouri
# 144:
12:05 pm PDT, Oct 4, Genya Welch, Minnesota
# 143:
11:18 am PDT, Sep 23, Gloria Gwynne, California
Formaldehyde makes me dizzy and unproductive at work. I should be able to avoid this poison when I buy clothing.
# 142:
3:33 pm PDT, Sep 19, Trisha Patton, Hawaii
We should restrict the use of formaldehyde in all products that affect our daily lives. It is currently used in textiles, along with many paper products, paints, cosmetics, glues, nail enamels and construction materials. Although requiring labels on the products is a step forward, it is not enough. We know that most people choose not to read labels, or don't fully understand the consequences of choosing a product labelled "Contains formaldehyde. Could cause allergic reaction and have possible carcinogenic properties." Even if they read the labels and understand the health effects, many people have been trained to by the most economical choice. There should not be an option to buy products that directly cause illness.
# 141:
10:38 pm PDT, Aug 31, Karen Rolfes, California
# 140:
1:53 am PDT, Aug 31, Name not displayed, Hawaii
As a choosy parent who cares about her childs health and safety above all else, I try to purchase the best, organic cotton etc. whenever possible. But on our budget "regular cotton" is also necessary. I would feel much better about clothing my baby in whatever I buy if I knew it didn't contain dangerous substances like formaldehyde. Since we look to our government for leadership and ensuring the safety of even our youngest citizens, I think it behooves the women and men whose purpose it is to serve their constituents to make laws that truly protect, and be as scrupulous, if not more so, than the choosiest parent about what can pass and what cannot as a safe product, especially where our children are concerned. Thank you in advance for your action on this important concern. Concerned Mom and Citizen
# 139:
7:18 pm PDT, Aug 27, Karilet Veloz, New York
Karilet J. Veloz I'm a mother of a wonderful, bright, cute and amazing two year old baby, that by the way was diagnosed with a mild case of PDD, wich is a form of autism, he has been treated with at home therapies that have helped him, and as today he is high funtioning and hopefully will be soon reevaluated to take the label of autism due to his amazing advance, and as beautiful that is to my ears, I can't help to think that part of what we endure today is because this toxins around everything that we consume, breath, wear, and play with. From the non so safe vaccines to the chemicals that companies put in the food that we eat, the toys that our children play with, the bed that we lie down every night thinking and feeling safe without knowing that all around is slowly killing us one day at the time, so what is left for me to do as a parent, is my best to keep my baby boy as safe as posible, from organic products to support this petition to prevent uncaring companies from harming our children and us for the chemicals in the clothes we wear.!
# 138:
9:31 pm PDT, Aug 26, Name not displayed, California
Consumers have the right to know about the potential harm of the products they are buying and make an informative decision about buying or not such product. Harmful chemicals have to be labeled clearly and visible for consumers.
# 137:
1:28 pm PDT, Aug 24, Jennifer Meshurle, Pennsylvania
my child should not have to have a risk of cancer just by putting on an outfit. this is an outrage!
# 136:
6:30 pm PDT, Aug 22, Davene Wasser, California
# 135:
8:09 am PDT, Aug 21, Shelley Getchell, Florida
# 134:
6:40 am PDT, Aug 19, Christine Schwartz, New Jersey
This is preposterous! Formaldehyde is used to slow a corpse from deteriorating. This is not a toxin for the living. We are in desperate need for legislation to stop manufacturers from adding formaldehyde to clothing. Save the children!
# 133:
12:27 pm PDT, Aug 16, Marina Bront, New Jersey
My child shouldn't have to risk getting cancer from the clothes he is wearing. Please remove formaldehyde from our children's clothing.
# 132:
9:20 am PDT, Aug 16, Jill Braxtan, Washington
It is ridiculous that our country lags so far behind other countries in keeping our children safe from toxic chemicals. If we aren't going to ban their use then it is reasonable that we as consumers know that they are in a product so that we can make an informed choice about whether to purchase that product or not.
# 131:
1:56 pm PDT, Aug 11, Name not displayed, Illinois
# 130:
8:03 am PDT, Aug 6, Anne-Marie Gaudreau, Canada
# 129:
11:27 am PDT, Aug 2, Anie Toole, Canada
# 128:
10:56 am PDT, Aug 2, Julie Tremblay, Canada
Please take formaldehyde out of our babies and children's clothing! How can we know if it's there or not when it doesn't have to be specified on the labels? This is crazy and totally unacceptable!
# 127:
7:26 am PDT, Jul 31, Name not displayed, North Carolina
My daughter has been suffering for months due to a bra with formaldehyde. We pray that her suffering will improve and hope that there is one day a law to prevent this from happening in the future. Thank you!
# 126:
4:09 pm PDT, Jul 29, Name not displayed, Illinois
Please work to decrease toxins in clothing and bedding. This works along with help with your health care (by decreasing exposure to formaldehyde) and environmental safety measures. Thank you for your support.
# 125:
9:32 pm PDT, Jul 24, Jitka Citron, California
# 124:
10:57 am PDT, Jul 21, Teresa Sarmiento, California
Dear President Obama, Please give the public a chance to make informed decisions about their textile purchases. It would also be helpful to make manufacturers give us warnings on the dangers of their products and how to reduce exposure. Thanks you in advance for your support. Teresa Sarmiento
# 123:
10:54 pm PDT, Jul 19, Eboney Robinson, Maryland
Please take keep our children safe and healthy. Profit is not more important than the future!Put a warning lable on clothing item....this chemical is POISON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
# 122:
11:09 am PDT, Jul 12, Kristen Cressey, Massachusetts
# 121:
8:37 pm PDT, Jul 11, Name not displayed, Illinois
# 120:
5:00 pm PDT, Jul 6, Nicole Zinn, Canada
This issue shouldn't have to be debated.
# 119:
7:19 am PDT, Jun 26, Sherri Stevens, California
# 118:
9:17 pm PDT, Jun 25, Silvia Bell, California
Since I have become a mom of my little son Jack, I have started doing research about everything that will affect my son's health, and I am very frustrated about the American businesses' safety policies. Nothing should be sold that is not safe for us without a warning sign. At the moment, I only buy products from Europe because I have to distrust American product safety. Please help making American products safe for everybody, especially for the most vulnerable - our children. Thank you
# 117:
12:37 pm PDT, Jun 15, Shae Tarka, California
Please listen to our requests to protect our children from these harmful chemicals! Thank you.
# 116:
10:36 am PDT, Jun 12, Name not displayed, Florida
# 115:
3:52 pm PDT, Jun 11, Celia Antonio, Canada
We hear our governments complaining about the medic care systems and how expensive they are to maintain because of various illnesses. I find it frustrating to see that they haven't made the connections. They haven't bothered to make necessary legislation when it comes to protecting the environment and merchandise that contain chemcials that are having an increasing effect on our families wellbeing.
# 114:
8:44 pm PDT, May 27, Brandie Laseter, Alaska
# 113:
11:50 pm PDT, May 24, Name not displayed, California
# 112:
11:31 am PDT, May 15, Jaime Leon De la Parra, California
# 111:
7:20 am PDT, May 15, Cathy Crawford, Texas
We need to keep moving towards a healthier population. That begins with removing known carcinogens from our environment. This is a small thing that can be done.
# 110:
6:07 am PDT, May 15, Sofia Hernandez-Grogan, Maryland
At a minimum, ingredients used in the production of textiles, particularly those for children, should be disclosed to American consumers. I find it appalling to learn that such dangerous chemicals are in children's clothing and at such dangerous levels. Ideally, banning these chemicals is best but disclosure is a good first step in the right direction.
# 109:
4:32 pm PDT, May 14, Name not displayed, Maryland
# 108:
10:19 pm PDT, May 12, Gemma Powell, Colorado
# 107:
12:29 pm PDT, May 1, Adele Deaton, Maryland
# 106:
5:05 pm PDT, Apr 28, Amanda Rohrbach, Arizona
President Obama, keep our children and environment safe!
# 105:
1:49 pm PDT, Apr 19, Robin Charles, Arizona
I have been diagnosed by Mayo Clinic as having an allergic reaction to formaldehyde resins in textiles. It took me a year and several thousand dollars to figure it out.
# 104:
10:17 am PDT, Apr 19, Name not displayed, Canada
If parents constantly have to research to make sure they aren't poisoning their children with food, toys and clothing, we don't have time to parent and nurture our children . . . the future generation of people. The fact that these chemicals are used in clothing (children's or not) is beyond my comprehension.
# 103:
9:05 am PDT, Apr 17, Name not displayed, Nevada
I believe that being informed as a parent is a small step but the government has to start protecting us as well. Toxic chemicals should not be allowed to be used without strict regulations.
# 102:
8:21 am PDT, Apr 8, Lydia Millbrook, Michigan
It is sad to see that our country is not protecting our children in every way possible that they can. I am not sure how long european countries have limited the use of formaldehyde and other harmful ingredients in clothing and other products, but our country should do the same. I believe with all the change our President is trying to create that this should also be a priority.
# 101:
4:16 pm PDT, Mar 31, Matthew Hirshberg, Massachusetts
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