Hazardous chemicals found in clothing

Hormone-disruptive chemicals and dyes that release cancer-causing substances have been found in clothing from world-leading fashion brands including Zara and Calvin Klein as well as local brands VANCL and Metersbonwe, according to a report released by Greenpeace in Beijing on Tuesday.

The environmental NGO in April purchased 141 garments sold in 29 countries and regions by 20 global clothing brands and tested for several hazardous chemicals. About a quarter of the products were made in China.

The tests show that all the brands made at least several items that contained hazardous chemicals. About 63 percent of the samples contained NPEs, which could degrade into hormone-disruptive nonylphenol. Four samples had high levels of phthalates that are toxic to the reproductive system, and traces of cancer-causing amines from the use of azo dyes were detected in two products from Zara.

Among the 34 samples made in China, 21 of them were problematic, said the report.

"The results reveal how much toxic chemicals these brands are dumping in China and other developing nations where products are made and regulations are loose. As the world's biggest fashion retailers, the likes of Zara have no choice but to change their practices, not only for consumers but also for the communities affected by irresponsible suppliers," Li Yifang, Toxics Campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia, told reporters on Tuesday.

Li added that during visits to over 100 textile factories in China, Greenpeace investigators witnessed striking scenes of pollution and pollution-caused health problems among people in neighboring areas.

The China branch of Inditex Group, which owns Zara, Tuesday told the Global Times in an email that it "cannot answer questions about specific garments as it has not been informed previously about any specific analysis," but stressed its commitment to the environment.

Meanwhile, a staff member with VANCL's communication department said under the condition of anonymity that its nearly 200 suppliers in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta all meet national pollution discharge standards.

According to the report, NPEs were found from all four samples of VANCL products.

NPEs are banned for textile production in Europe, but in China, their manufacture, use and release are not regulated.