Question from Richard
Hi Debra, for a long while I’ve been confused about whether imported organic clothing and textiles are sprayed with pesticides before entry into the country. I try to order USA Made organic made products whenever I can but this isn’t easy. Recently I ordered a color grown HABIDECOR rug made in Portugal. It seems fine. However I don’t want to be unwittingly purchasing items that are being sprayed with something so they can be imported into the country. I’ve tried getting an answer for this online without success. Are only raw imported textiles sprayed or finished goods as well?
Thank you for your time Debra. Love your site!
Debra’s Answer
Here’s a link to a forum for architects where they are discussing toxic chemicals in shipping containers because there is a lot of interest now in using shipping containers to make housing: Shipping container floors NOT sustainable AND toxic!
So these are the shipping containers things are shipped in from China and other countries.
Pesticides may or may not be sprayed on the cargo itself. But you have no way of knowing.
Another reason to buy Made in the USA!
I am constantly affected by just opening packaging, steaming garments etc. My lips and face sting…it obviously is highly toxic!!
It more likely that finished textiles are chemically treated than raw fabrics. According to a German paper I read, when raw textile items were tested by scientists, the pesticide reside disappears with processing of the cotton into textile.
Spraying of items for import has mostly to do with requirements for container shipments containing imported wood that may contain bugs that could infest forests. It costs approx. $10,000 to fumigate a container, so it would have to be a worthwhile cost to the manufacturer. The smell of chemicals on a purchased item has more to do with it meeting fire retardant specs. Quilt batting has a percentage of polyester as do even american made rugs, to conform to the fire resistant specs. If a company can afford to do the “fire resistance” tests, and the items pass, then they don’t need to be treated with fire retardant. So bigger more reputable companies (particularly those manufacturing organic products for children) are better.
Also, where the item is manufactured is important: the EU has much stronger regulations for chemical exposure for workers, so the item being made there will be less chemically treated. Note, too, that when your item is shipped, it is usually shipped in plastic packaging and so will prevent any gassing of pesticide leaching into your item. However, how your item is packaged affects the chemical smell of an item too: it is more than likely that if your item is in vinyl packaging, the vinyl chemicals will soak into the textile, making the textile smell even if it has not been treated.
Also, there are no guarantees that this is the only way pesticide might make its way onto your item. I know through a friend of a popular underwear frachise that was fumigated when bugs were found. If you make small talk with the store cashiers, often they will even volunteer that their store has been recently fumigated.
Oh, of interest regarding steel shipping containers: my spousee uses one for a work office, and the biggest thing I notice is the smell of plywood on his synthetic polyester jackets, the cotton/wool clothing does not soak it up like synthetics do. The wood pallets that boxed shipments are sent on are incredibly treated with pesticide, and have made workers unloading shipping containers sick, so the cardboard box of your imported item would be the biggest concern in your home.