Comments on: Could your child’s school uniform be harmful?

By: N4 Mummy

N4 Mummy — Sat, 05 Sep 2015 17:29:17 +0000

In reply to Cait.

Hi Cait,

Thank you for your comment, I agree that we should not scare mums into buying organic through vague claims about dangerous chemicals and it is vital to be aware of how pseudoscientific terms can be manipulated for advertising.

However, having read several articles including one published by the National Institute of Environmental Sciences (https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/perflourinated_chemicals_508.pdf
) I have been challenged to think more deeply about the environmental and potential health impact of the fast fashion industry.

A number of animal studies have shown the potential harm on a number of body systems of reagents used in clothing manufacturing. In my view this should challenge our presuppositions about what is acceptable now and safe in the long term.

In addition by law manufacturers are only required to disclose the composition of the garment and the final country of make, and I think it is important we are aware of what goes into making our clothes, so we can make an informed decision.

I suggest you read the following articles:

http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/91967.aspx#
https://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/?s=toxic+lies
http://www.minddisrupted.org/documents/MD%20PFC%20Fact.pdf
https://chemicalwatch.com/11013/perfluorinated-chemicals-a-persistent-problem

Thanks

Karen x

By: Cait

Cait — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 17:40:05 +0000

Actually, this article is just another one there to scaremonger. Im a chemistry student in my final year of a masters degree. I can assure you these facts are utter rubbish. For example, polyester. All of the reagents used to make polyester are safe and won’t harm your little darlings. Yes, some are derived from fractions from crude oil, but the harmful bits are separated out and unless they defy the rules of physics and chemistry they aren’t getting in there! Poly cotton is simply polyester and natural cotton (which by the way is again a chemical – as is everything you breathe in, touch, smell etc.) PFCs. Now if the author of this article had done their research they would have found that these are the safer alternative to CFCs, which are damaging the ozone layer. Oh and that nice waterproof coat you have? Yeah, that has a CFC based coating or a PFC coating. They are just a couple of the issues I have with this. It upsets me to see people using chemistry terms to try to scaremonger parents into spending lots on school uniforms. Believe me, if there were any issues with the uniforms sold by Adsa, Tesco etc. they would not be allowed to sell them. Please don’t get scared by a few long named chemicals. Your basic identity is made up of deoxyribonucleic acid. If I told you that named chemical causes cancer would you avoid that too?

By: Jackie Day

Jackie Day — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 16:14:08 +0000

So glad to hear of an ethical, organic source of children’s school clothes. Supermarket school clothes seem too good to be true and obviously are.

By: N4 Mummy

N4 Mummy — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 07:55:23 +0000

In reply to Kate Pymble.

Thanks Kate x

By: Kate Pymble

Kate Pymble — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 07:03:07 +0000

Very interesting blog

By: N4 Mummy

N4 Mummy — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 20:11:56 +0000

In reply to Peter Day.

Thanks, I think JJ will find it particularly interesting in relation to Millie xx

By: Peter Day

Peter Day — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 20:10:04 +0000

What an excellent blog – very relevant and thought provoking.