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Chemical Categories

Chemical Categories andClassification Schemes

by

Tara YoungFabric & Colour Technical

Manager

Tesco Clothing

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Chemical CategoriesWhere are substances

classified by law?

•European directives e.g.EN71 (Toy Safety), RoHS

(Electricals)

•German Chemicals Act

•Japanese law

•California Proposition 65

•Food & Commodities Law(LMBG)

•Other national laws

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Chemical Categories

What are the consumerclassification schemes?

•Oekotex 100

•SG Label

•TUV Toxproof

•ETAD

•WFSGI

…and others

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Chemical Categories

Other classificationschemes?

•Stockholm Conventionon Persistent Organic

Pollutants

•Retailer RSLs

•Non GovernmentOrganisations

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Chemical Categories

Upcoming ClassificationSchemes

•REACH (EuropeanChemicals Agency

Resistration, Evaluation &Authorisation Scheme)

•US EnvironmentalProtection Agency (decision

on Fluorocarbons)

•California Proposition 65 toinclude Phthalates

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Chemical Categories

Some examples…

• Biocides

• Dyes

• Fluorocarbons

• Heavy Metals

• Phenols

• Phthalates

• Solvents

and others….

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Chemical Categories

Where are they found?

Biocides

• Antibacterial treatmentssuch as Triclosan

•Associated withantibiotic resistance

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Chemical CategoriesWhere are they found?

Restricted dyes

• Certain Azo Dyes whichcleave to form restricted

amines in natural fibres &leather.

•Carcinogenic

• Certain Disperse Dyes insynthetic fibres.

• Skin sensitising

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Chemical Categories

Where are they found?

Fluorocarbons

•8 chain fluorocarbonse.g. PFOS and their

building blocks e.g. PFOA

• Used in water, stain & oilrepellent finishes for

textiles & leather.

•Environmentallypersistent & suspected

health risks

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Chemical Categories

Where are they found?

Heavy Metals

• Such as Cadmium,Chromium VI, Lead,

Mercury

• Heat stabilisers used inpigments, dyes & plastics.

• Toxic, bio-accumulative& environmentally

persistent

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Chemical Categories

Where are they found?

Phenols

• Such asPentachlorophenol (PCP)

& Tetracholophenol(TeCP)

• Pesticides, fungicides &preservatives for crops,

textiles & down.

•Toxic to the environment

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Chemical Categories

Where are they found?

Phthalates

• Softeners used inplastics, prints and trims

• Bioaccumulative &endocrine modulating

• Restricted for childrenunder 3 years old

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Chemical Categories

Where are they found?

Solvents

• Found in cleaningagents, adhesives, dyecarriers & print binders.

• Toxic & Ozone depleting