Unsafe levels of BPA still found in underwear
A new European study has found dangerously high levels of endocrine-disrupting BPA, in 166 types of women’s underwear tested from Hungary, Austria, and Slovenia and the Czech Republic.
30 % of underwear samples had some form of bisphenols, while 10% had bisphenol levels that were higher than what regulators say is safe for human health.
Notably, bisphenol levels were higher in “products from well-known brands” than in cheaper underwear
Past studies
This latest round of testing took place in Europe ( Hungary, Austria , slovenia and Czech Rep) however similar results have been found through the years ( I started reporting on it in 2018! ) in past studies in the US and western Europe.
Bottom line is that it is not only underwear that can contain BPA. Baby socks, adult socks, athletic wear have all been found to contain BPA through the years.
2017
In 2017 researchers in China looked at textiles purchased internationally (including the US) and found that many contained BPA. Socks contained the highest concentrations of BPA particularly those made with 97% polyester fabric marketed for infants.
2018
In 2018 another study looked at pantyhose from 6 countries and found 23 endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including bisphenols, benzophenones, chlorophenols, parabens, and triclocarban (TCC), in 74 pantyhose samples collected from 6 countries. Pantyhose made with 21–50% Spandex contained the highest concentrations of BPS. Bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol A (BPA) were found in 100% and 96% of the samples
2019
In 2019, a conducted in Spain, looked specifically at infant and children’s socks and found that 90.6% of socks sold for babies and children they looked at contain BPA. (also found Ethyl-paraben in 100% of socks)
2021
Center for Environmental Health sent legal notices to 42 companies after new testing showed BPA in baby, children’s, and women’s socks at up to 19 times over the state of California’s safe limit. found BPA in the socks made for babies, children & adults sold in the US made predominantly from polyester with spandex from these brands
Some of the companies whose socks contained BPA: Aeropostale, Apara, ASics, Bare Hugs, Betsey Johnson, Bon Domir, Champion, Charlotte, Danbar Global Stars & Dreamers, Dr. Scholls, Elite Collection, Ellen Tracy, ENVY, Forevery 21, Gaiam, Fruit of the Loom, Hanes, Hurley, Jessica Simpson, Juicy Couture, K Swiss, Legale, Lucky Brand, MeMoi, New Balance, Nickelodeon, No Boundaries, Pickle & Dot, Polo Ralph Lauren, Puma, Reebok, Rising Star, Sketchers, So Dorable, Sole Saying, Spalding, Steve Madden, Tic Tac Toe, Tommy Hilfiger, Wonder Nation, Xhilaration
Concerns
BPA Bisphenol A can affect people’s fertility, cause eye damage, irritate the lungs, lead to allergic skin reactions, disrupt the hormone system, and affect cognitive function and metabolism, according to the European Environment Agency.
Can’t the BPA just be washed off?
No. The BPA rates were not reduced after laundering clothes. In fact, clothing containing BPA seems to contaminate other clothes in the wash – resulting in higher average BPA levels in used clothes than in new clothes.
We know there is BPA in some clothing, but are we absorbing it? SHOULD WE BE ALARMED AT THESE FINDINGS?
Yes.
How much BPA we absorb through our skin depends on a lot of factors from how long you wear the clothing, to the temperature/if you’re sweating or not. sweating while wearing clothing that contains BPA increases your absorption significantly. For babies and young children, saliva acts similarly to sweat by increasing absorption ( saliva would be present when a child sucks on a sock or sleeve).
Regardless of how high the rate of absorption is, BPA is known to cause harmful effects at low dose levels, especially in infants and young children.
The chemicals taken from these baby socks/ underwear/ althetic clothibg behave like the female hormone estrogen and they can also inhibit the production of testosterone. When our bodies experience a long period of time with a hormone imbalance (higher levels of estrogen and/or lower levels of testosterone) such as the ones that BPA exposure may cause, there can be increased risk of hormone-related cancers, attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity, genitourinary disorders, premature sexual development, lower male sperm quality and obesity in children.
Babies and toddlers are especially vulnerable to chemicals and often face both dermal and oral exposure ( since they often place their feet in their mouths or suck on sleeves), it’s important that parents take measures to avoid BPA exposure as much as possible.
Similarly, preteen and teens who might be wearing BPA containing clothing while sweating are in a particularly vulnerable state of exposure because they’re going through puberty and are more vulnerable to effects of these endocrine destructive chemicals.
Being exposed to small amounts of BPA through different sources (other clothing, food, household items etc) adds up, especially in infants and young children.
Additionally, while large studies lack, I suspect that BPA is also found in other clothing items (probably clothing made with polyester and/or spandex) whcih would add a much larger potential source of bisphenols to our daily exposure rate.
🌟How to avoid BPA in your underwear/socks/ clothing?
👉🏻 Buy GOTS certified organic or OEKO-TEX certified products These two Certifications test for/ do not allow BPA in clothing items.
👉🏻 Buy socks/ clothing items made of 100% natural materials like wool, alpaca, cashmere, 100% organic cotton & hemp.
👉🏻Avoid synthetic fibers especially polyester and spandex which require additives to be produced, with one of the most common additives being BPA.
AIDA APPROVED BABY & KIDS SOCKS
Q FOR QUINN (GOTS ORGANIC COTTON)
Hanna Andersson (OEKO TEX CERTIFIED)
LAMINGTON SOCKS (MERINO WOOL)
MAGGIES SOCKS (MADE WITH ORGANIC COTTON AND ORGANIC WOOL )
My organic clothing guide has over 160 companies that are making organic clothing. Includes baby clothing, women’s clothing, children’s clothing, men’s clothing, outdoor wear, etc..
Reminder: BPA is only one of dozens/ hundreds of chemicals used to make conventional clothing. Woven into most textiles/ dyes are dozens of chemicals that silently can affect our health
If this is a topic that interests you, you might be interested jn the upcoming
Healthy Threads Textile Summit which you can attend in person if you live in the area or attend virtually!
Location: The Loft at Studio J, 214 Main St S, Stillwater, MN
Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM; panel and fashion show from 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Speakers:
Alden Wicker: Journalist, author of To Dye For
Karen Wade Cavanagh: Environmental lawyer and legal counsel for AIZOME
Kris Hansen: PFAS expert and former 3M chemist-turned-whistleblower
Tickets:
SOURCES
https://health.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2022-08/sccs_o_240.pdf
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019307287
https://ceh.org/bpa-socks/
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.7b00701
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.8b03129 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31124657/
It is so frustrating. Financially I use hand me down clothes and just can't afford organic socks and underwear. Not when I am spending money on nontoxic cleaning products (although I make my own a lot), organic food, supplements, etc...