aOpponents of fast fashion often lament that today's clothing is designed to be worn only a few times and then thrown away. But what about Halloween costumes, the ultimate in super fast fashion? They're literally designed to be worn once. By the next year, the pop culture reference is outdated and the flimsy polyester ends up in the landfill.
Without incentives for quality, costume makers can be sloppy. Environmental Health Center I found it Costumes from both Halloween Express and Spirit Halloween contained lead, cadmium, BPA and other substances at levels “that appeared to exceed standards.” [California] We need to be warned,” said Mihir Bohra, CEH science leader.
Exposure to such substances is associated with harm to humans. For example, there is no “safe” level of lead exposure. Lead is especially harmful to children, and regular exposure to lead can may lead to Nervous system damage and intellectual disability. Cadmium intake may cause Acute gastroenteritis with permanent damage at sufficiently high levels. BPA is an endocrine disruptor, which negatively affects the hormonal system and the regulation of all important systems in our bodies, including the cardiovascular system and the brain. Studies show that BPA exposure and Brain and behavioral disorders Children are affected, and infants exposed in utero may have lifelong health effects. Also linked to infertility, Breast cancer, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Creating costumes from super-fast and super-cheap fashion brands like Shein, Temu, and brands sold on Amazon can come with its own risks. Products from these brands Found include Toxic substances such as lead, phthalates, and formaldehyde. In 2022, Disney children's clothing will be sold at six retailers, including Amazon. I was reminded Because it contains lead.
At the federal level, the U.S. government bans only three chemicals, lead, cadmium, and certain phthalates, from clothing in children's products. Scott Echols, chief impact officer at ZDHC, a fashion industry group focused on “detoxing” apparel, footwear and accessories, is confident that ultra-cheap Halloween costume sellers are meeting even that low standard. Not yet. “In theory, it should meet some of the requirements for children's products,” he says. “But I wouldn't bet on that.”
halloween express say Our website states that we comply with applicable regulations and test our products. (The company did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.)
spirit halloween boast More than 1,500 locations across the U.S. are not sharing testing or supplier information on their websites during the Halloween season. standard (Text of the California Supply Chain Transparency Act). In an emailed statement, Spirit Halloween said all children's costumes, toys, accessories and decorations are tested and comply with federal regulations and California's Proposition 65 regarding children's products. .
Proposition 65 requires consumer product companies to label products that contain: listed Chemicals that are carcinogenic or harmful to reproduction. This incentivizes advocacy groups to test big companies' dangerous products, notify and then sue brands that fail to warn consumers about products containing toxic chemicals.
Apparel companies are particularly reluctant to label their products whenever possible, Echols said. “If you're getting a warning, either there's something there or they're not paying attention enough to assess whether something is there,” he says.
Therefore, you should consider Prop 65 notices, such as the following warning from Halloween Express. vinyl face mask or children's costumes You could be at risk – seriously. Halloween Express customer service representatives could not explain why they would warn that children's costumes may contain lead, even though lead is not allowed in children's products. Ta. The safety team at parent company Oriental Trading also did not respond to requests for explanation.
Is it some random brand with a nonsensical name that you found on Amazon or some other corner of the internet? The company doesn't have a large enough presence in California to be subject to Prop 65 regulations, so they're removing harmful chemicals from their Halloween items. Efforts to eliminate it are likely to be less advanced. Small package shipped directly from Asia This is also not checked Like large shipping containers, they are controlled by Customs and Border Protection.
Other dangerous chemicals may be involved. IKEA and H&M When second-hand polyester clothing from around the world was tested, the phthalate DEHP, another endocrine disruptor, was detected in 49% of the samples. Miriam Diamond, a professor in the School of Earth Sciences and the Environment at the University of Toronto, said testing children's costumes news investigation 'Elevated levels' of phthalates were found. Phthalates have been linked to heart disease and premature death in adults, and reproductive, immune system, and metabolic diseases in children and adults.
If you or your child overheats wearing a plastic-like costume, studies have shown that sweat is effective at leaching harmful chemicals from synthetic fibers. Depending on how you store it at home, exposure may continue beyond the initial wear. “Fabrics and chemicals degrade over time,” Diamond says. “Stuffing them in closets and drawers can share toxic chemicals with other clothing. Chemicals are also shared during laundry.”
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“If you're using a plastic Halloween costume, be sure to wash your hands before eating Halloween candy,” Vohra says.
Even low-end retailers can be transparent about the presence of chemicals in their clothing. H&M, Old Navy, and Target. Powerful and comprehensive chemical management systemwe publish information on our website about our regular testing, a list of restricted substances that far exceeds federal regulations, and who makes, dyes, and finishes our apparel and accessories.
If you want to save money, go to a thrift store like Goodwill. Becoming a more responsible brand. “It's probably been washed several times,” he says, to deal with accidental contaminants such as fabric treatments or pesticides. If you want to paint your face, he suggests buying regular drugstore cosmetics, which have stricter safety standards than cheaper face paints. He also suggests avoiding flexible plastic face masks and other products from cheaper, unknown brands. [phthalates] For PVC, it's in there. ”
When Diamond's children were little, she loved helping them make costumes out of things around the house. She was disappointed to hear that DIY costumes were being usurped by cheap, fast fashion.
“If you go shopping for a fast-fashion Halloween costume, you're probably putting your kids at risk of exposing them to harmful substances,” she says. She hopes people will remember the joy of creativity and give upcycling costumes another try.
