Why Do Clothes Have A Prop 65 Warning?
Photo of Prop 65 Warning Label on clothing
Updated 2024.07.19
At a nationwide last-stop retail discount store near us, the Useful Roots Team recently spotted a Proposition 65 warning label on a 95% polyester / 5% spandex blouse.
The blouse was made in Vietnam by the brand PerSeption Concept, and the warning label was discovered when attempting to find out the care instructions for it.
The label reads:
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
Proposition 65 (also called Prop 65) requires businesses to provide warnings to California Residents about significant exposures to chemicals that have demonstrated toxicity to humans, specifically those chemicals with strong evidence that they cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Proposition 65 applies to products Californians purchase or have in their homes and it also prohibits businesses from discharging toxic chemicals into drinking water.
The toxic chemicals list under Proposition 65, first created in 1987, is updated annually and it now includes over 900 chemicals.
By law, if a chemical on the list is present in an amount that is above the threshold risk for cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm, a warning is required. No warning has to be given if the chemical is present, but in low enough amounts believed to be below the threshold where it will cause cancer, birth defects or reproductive harm.
When you see a Prop 65 warning on clothing, it means the clothing contains an elevated level of chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects and/or reproductive harm to males or females.
These chemicals most likely originate from the dye used in the manufacturing process, but they can also be a part of the synthetic fibers used to make the fabric.
Is it safe to wear clothing with a Prop 65 warning label?
Photo of Prop 65 Warning Label on clothing
No, it is probably not safe to wear clothing with a Prop 65 warning label.
Considering so many healthier options are available, it is best to avoid clothing made with and containing toxic chemicals at levels known to cause cancer and birth defects. If you see this label in your clothing, whether it’s from the dyes or fabrics used, be aware these chemicals can rub off on the skin and enter the body through dermal absorption.
In the case of lead, as noted above, you can be exposed to lead toxicity through dermal absorption, though many other chemicals used in clothing manufacturing can also be absorbed through the skin.
In addition, about one-fifth of worldwide water pollution is from toxic chemicals, mostly from dyes, used in the clothing manufacturing process.
These chemicals must be handled by workers that make this clothing, and can be found in the water sources around the factories that produce it. The workers, and those who rely on the nearby water, can also be negatively impacted by these toxic chemicals.
Should I buy clothing with a Prop 65 warning label?
Why Do Clothes Have A Prop 65 Warning? text overlay purple blouse
For the wellbeing of yourself, others and the planet, you should probably not buy clothing with a Prop 65 warning label.
As you wear the clothing, it will rub against your skin, and the chemicals in contact with your skin can be absorbed into your body. Furthermore, the chemicals used in your end-product are being handled somewhere else at much higher volumes, negatively impacting the people there and the environment around them.
To avoid Prop 65 clothing:
Look for a warning label.
On the blouse we found, the label was sewn in the side seam of the blouse, under the care instructions label. It was discreetly present.
When we see Prop 65 labels, they are often present in a fine print and on the back, bottom or inside of the product. You may have to really look for the product tags to find their warning labels.
What to buy instead:
Shop for lower toxicity clothing by seeking companies that are:
Advertising a commitment to cleaner fashion, like Everlane
Specifically using low impact dyes, like Echo Verde
Focusing on natural fibers, which use fewer chemicals, like Garnet Hill
While it is unfortunate that some manufacturers choose to continue to use chemicals that harm their workers, environment and customers, it is fortunate that Proposition 65 exists, so you can make the decision for yourself on whether you want to support this or not.
Before Proposition 65, manufacturers did not have to warn consumers about any elevated toxicity in their products, which was a situation that put countless lives at risk.
The good news is that now that you know what Proposition 65 warnings mean, you can decide to make new, different decisions with your dollars and if you choose, direct your money into clothing pieces that are better for you and the world at large.
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