more solid information about chemicals in cloth

ARE CHEMICALS IN CLOTHING DANGEROUS? YES!!!

Jerry,

I don't know if you've heard of the lawsuit that Delta Airline employees have filed in regard to the new uniforms causing the wearers to get sick. Anyway, you've talked about chemicals in clothing many times before and I thought you'd be interested.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jicPwUabDPo

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/airline-news/2020/01/03/delta-airlines-employees-sue-lands-end-uniforms-made-them-sick/2803937001/

Thanks,

Rick

Last night I received the above email and links about a situation I was unaware of, the chemical reaction by employees of Delta Airlines, American Airlines and in the case of Alaska Airlines that goes back 3 years about employees wearing new uniforms that have been causing serious chemical reactions from the fabrics the uniforms are made from.

You would think that Delta and American would have taken notice of Alaska Airlines. Obviously, they did not take notice.

This morning I received an email and consequently a phone call from a representative of the Department of Commerce (DOC) wanting to know my position on the tariffs applied to sleeping bags, tents and backpacks.

Several companies, the leading one being Exxel Outdoors out of Alabama want to see the tariffs at minimum lowered. In the past when this has come up, I helped the company because they were getting shells already made from China for cheap so-called bags sold to Walmart and who knows who else. As of today that help will not happen. Why because as I told the representative of the DOC there is no telling what chemicals are used in the fabrics they are importing.

When you watch the videos specifically the American Airlines one the doctor examining one fellow told him he did not have any allergies, he was having a chemical reaction to the clothing he was wearing.

The companies supplying the uniforms are Lands End and a company I never heard of Twin Hill. They are located in Houston, TX. It should be noted that neither company produces any products in the U.S.A. In the case of Lands End they import probably exclusively from China but I could be wrong, they may also get product made for them in Vietnam or some other Asian country. Therefore, you can now ask if the fabrics used for the garments from Lands End are inundated with the same chemicals used for the Delta uniforms. From what I have read about Twin Hill they only sell uniforms. They are also probably made in Asia and I would guess China.

The DOC representative wanted to know about reducing the tariffs and while I am a free trade advocate, I am against reducing the tariffs on textile products in general at this time. I told her; we live in a free country where we can generally do what we want. We do not like government getting in our way but government has a responsibility to protect us.

The tariffs were put in place so the government could get more revenue and of course importers went ballistic. It made no big deal to me that the tariffs were put in place since what I make is made in America which includes the materials I use. But there has developed an unforeseen situation and that happens to be that the government in my opinion now has to setup and say to the importers your products in the textile business have to be free of toxic chemicals. This is where the government has to take steps to protect us.

If the government puts in place laws pertaining to requiring knowing what chemicals are used in the processing of the materials that go into the making of garments in Asia or better yet impose the same laws that are required that US companies have to follow that would be a step in protecting OUR population, the citizens of the U.S.A.

The DOC representative asked about REI. I told the DOC representative that REI in conjunction with Duke University did a study of fire-retardant materials used for tents they sell. The study was done 5 or 6 years ago. I told her the study showed that people should wear gloves when putting up the tents since the fire-retardant chemicals leached off of the fabric and were carcinogenic and when you were in the tent you were breathing in the fumes. They still import these tents. I said double or triple the tariff for tents. How much of the clothing that is on the racks at REI is inundated with toxic chemicals, my opinion the greater bulk of them. This probably holds true for all of the stores that compete with REI.

What the consumers have to realize is that the outdoor industry has morphed into a number of holding companies and their mantra is to sell product and where and how it is made is insignificant. If a person here and their complains they just brush it off. The employees of Delta and American Airlines are I am happy to say not accepting that and that is a good thing. I am also sure that Lands End’s owners as well as Twin Hill’s owners are not sleeping very well these days. Imagine if the people who are passenger’s on their aircraft demand that the cabin crew wear uniforms that are not tainted or they won’t fly. That will certainly get their attention. I am also sure that every other airline that is entertaining new uniforms is taking note.

If you really want to know about the chemical goings on in China in the textile industry buy the following book; POLAR POLLUTION by DOUGLAS HOSCHEK. Doug is a good friend and has provided me with much information over the years. He told me it is available on amazon.