Toxic Fire Retardants in our Clothing

Fire-retardants in clothes are chemical treatments or coatings applied to fabrics to make them resistant to catching fire. These chemicals can either be applied as a finish on the fabric or integrated into the fabric's fibres during the manufacturing process.

These treatments work by either slowing down the combustion process or by preventing the fire from spreading, giving the wearer more time to react in the event of exposure to flames or high heat, which is a great idea whenever such treatments are required.

Fortunately, they are rarely required, but we are still exposed to these chemicals in our clothing, and some fire-retardant chemicals have raised concerns about their potential health and environmental impacts, particularly with prolonged exposure.

This April 2024 article on the University of Birmingham website, looks at how “toxic chemicals used to flame-proof plastic materials can be absorbed through our skin” and into the blood stream. These same chemicals are used in flame proofing synthetic clothing.