Allergies. New clothes must be washed to protect the skin

The National Agency for Sanitary Security (ANSES) recalls on Wednesday that it is recommended to pbad to the machine. An expert report confirms again that there are risks of allergies and skin irritations due to the presence of benzidine, chromium 6 and nickel.

Beware of irritation. Before wearing it for the first time, it is necessary to wash any clothing likely to be in contact with the skin, underlines an opinion of the Anses health agency on the risks of allergies and cutaneous irritations due to the textile.

A pbadage through a machine reduces the exposure to chemical substances such as nonylphenols, "which are at the same time cutaneous irritants, toxic for reproduction and endocrine disruptors" Christophe Rousselle of the Agency National Health Security (ANSES).

This Wednesday published an expert report with a series of recommendations for "better protect consumers from the risk of allergy and cutaneous irritations" ] regularly reported to health authorities

If an irritation or allergy reaction occurs after the purchase of shoes or clothing, consider consult a doctor or dermato allergist to identify the possible responsible substance, adds the head of the pole dangers of the substances with ANSES.

Irritating chemical substances

The Agency pursues a study until October with doctors (dermato allergists, toxicologists) and patients, intended for the identification of the irritating substances involved. The first phase of this "pioneering" study took place between January and September 2017 with about 30 adult patients.

In some cases, it allowed the identification of chemicals present in articles that cause symptoms, such as benzidine, chromium 6, nickel, ANSES notes. In addition, about twenty families of chemical substances were searched for in clothing and about fifty in shoes.

Analyzes of some forty new articles helped to refine the families of chemical substances to search for and confirm among others, the presence of nonylphenols or formaldehyde. They also allowed the identification of substances that are not routinely sought after, while they may lead to contact dermatitis, such as PPD (paraphenylene diamine).

ANSES recommends, among other things, that the authorities lower the regulatory maximum of chromium 6 in leather goods. It has indeed observed allergic reactions below "regulatory threshold" .

It also recommends setting a maximum for nickel in textiles. For this metal, there is no regulation specific to textiles, while there are some in toys, cosmetics or jewelery, explains Mr. Rousselle.

Putting pressure on suppliers

On the health agency advocates maintaining the pressure to avoid finding on the market items that do not comply with the regulations.

Furthermore, it recommends to the persons responsible for the marketing of footwear and clothing of " check with their suppliers for the absence of CMR [cancérogènes, mutagènes, toxiques pour la reproduction] or sensitizing or irritating skin substances in the articles ".

She also wants the evolution of knowledge to be used to update the clbadification European Union of substances responsible for skin allergies, and advocates consumer information (labeling, packaging) to signal their potential presence.