In the case of the bug repellent clothing, the chemical is permethrin, which is a pyrethroid, a synthetic version of pyrethrum, a natural pesticide made from chrysanthemums. So is it safe? From the little bit of information I was able to find online, no one really knows. It might be a carcinogen. Symptoms of poisoning from pyrethrins may include:
- Irritation of skin and eyes.
- Irritability to sound or touch, abnormal facial sensation, sensation of prickling, tingling or creeping on skin, numbness.
- Headache, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive salivation, fatigue.
- In severe cases: fluid in the lungs and muscle twitching may develop. Seizures may occur and are more common with more toxic cyano-pyrethroids.
Oh, and it comes off in your sweat and in the wash. Do I really want to wear this in my clothing, all over my body, while I visit hot and sweaty places? No. And, even more significantly, why on earth would I visit one of the world's most precious ecosystems wearing clothing that might pollute it? Put bug repellent clothing on my list of What Not to Wear.
But what about the other traits in the various clothes sold in REI? When I visited, I was told that everything was rated for sun protection. What chemicals did they use for that? I bought a few REI brand items and from the clearance rack I bought a pair of Columbia shorts and The North Face pants. Then I checked the REI website for information on chemicals in them, because their tags and labels said nothing. The REI site said little too, save for an article about how sun protection was achieved in general. It told of a number of methods, only one of which was chemical treatments. And it named no chemicals.
Why are consumers being asked to buy and wear clothing with no information about what's in it? This is outrageous.
I wrote to REI and asked how the sun protection was achieved and which, if any, chemicals were used. They replied promptly that no chemicals are used in REI brand clothes, but I should contact Columbia and The North Face individually.
I first called The North Face and reached an operator who had no clue. She told me no one had ever asked that question before and suggested I call the warranty department. Then I emailed. The email came back saying that The North Face uses no chemicals to achieve sun protection. Phew.
Columbia's website really concerned me. It lists a LONG LIST of technologies as follows:
Omni-Heat® THERMAL COMFORT: Stay warm in cold conditions.
Omni-Shield™ ADVANCED REPELLENCY: Resist rain and stains.
Omni-Shield BLOOD 'N GUTS™ ADVANCED REPELLENCY: Resist and release.
Techlite™ LIGHTWEIGHT PERFORMANCE: Lightweight cushioning and support.
Omni-Grip® ADVANCED TRACTION: Hold tight on any terrain.
Omni-Shade® SUN PROTECTION: Enjoy the sun safely.
Omni-Dry® ADVANCED EVAPORATION: Keeps you dry and comfortable.
Omni-Freeze™ ADVANCED COOLING: Stay cool in the heat.
Omni-Tech® WATERPROOF BREATHABLE: Stay dry in wet conditions.
A few of these are especially worrying, as stain-resistant or waterproof claims often imply that the clothing contains perfluorinated compounds (read: very bad for human health and the environment).
A woman named Mary wrote me back with the following:
Hi Jill,
Thank you for contacting Columbia. The process for the fabric treatments in that the fibers are treated and then woven into fabrics. The fabrics are not sprayed with the technologies. See below.
Answer Title: Is the omni-shield fabric treatment is environmentally friendly?
Answer Link: http://columbia.custhelp.com/a...
We hope this information is helpful and we appreciate your interest in our products.
Here's what you find at the link:
Is the omni-shield fabric treatment is environmentally friendly?
The Omni-shield technology relies on the construction of the fabric and a durable coating applied to the fabric, this coating is dried and bound to the fabric and is not designed to be released from the garment. We do not have any reason to believe the Omni-Shield coating on our snowsuits would pose a risk to the environment or the consumer.
Talk about a non-answer! I wrote back:
Thank you. However, you have not answered my question. I wish to know which chemicals are used on the clothing. I do not want to put clothing on my body if I do not know what is in it. I am interested specifically in any chemicals used for sun protection, and I also want to know if you use any perfluorinated compounds for stain-resistance or water-proofing.
Let's see if that gets an answer.
UPDATE: They replied:
We restrict the use of banned dyes, chemicals, and materials that are sensitizing or known to cause allergic reactions. Other than that, our technology is proprietary and we can not disclose our additives. Sorry I can not give you any additional information.
Thank you for your interest in our products.
I wrote back:
Thank you.
I am not only a customer of yours, I am also a journalist. Due to the lack of answers from Columbia and others, I am pitching an article on this to a national online publication. Until I am able to learn more about your proprietary chemicals, I am no longer purchasing Columbia clothes. Also, I want to give you a chance - understanding that it's for a publication that many customers might read - to give me more of an answer. It is quite disrespectful of Columbia to ask consumers to wear your clothes without knowing what is in them.
I was also curious about a pair of Ex Officio underwear I've got that claims it is quick drying and odor resistant. The Ex Officio site said it used AEGIS Microbe Shield technology. The AEGIS Microbe Shield site was full of non-answers, so I contacted them. They replied as follows:
You have made an excellent choice and you can rest easy. The AEGIS Microbe Shield controls microbial growth with a physical action and does not leach. It stays where it is put! That means we are NOT silver, triclosan, or any other heavy metal technology. We have a 30+ year history of safe and effective use with durability. Please, be sure to ask for AEGIS by name for all your footwear, socks, clothing and other items that use antimicrobial technology.
That's even more audacious and maddening than the response from Columbia! And it's not good enough to convince me to put these underwear on my naughty bits. I replied, asking for the specific chemical(s) used.
I find it absolutely outrageous that we are asked to expose ourselves to unknown chemicals and the companies who profit from this won't even inform us which chemicals they are, let alone their impacts on human health and the environment. And since many of these are clothes intended for the outdoors, we are also potentially polluting some of the most pristine ecosystems in the world by wearing these clothes. As it turned out for my REI and The North Face sun protection clothes, maybe no chemicals are involved. But shouldn't they tell us that? |
