What The Hell?!?!? Yeah, Its More Poison Shit From China - Kid's Clothes

[DeSwiss]

Poison found in kids' clothes from China
Poison in children's clothing is emerging as the latest health risk from China.

By KAREN ARNOLD
Sunday Star Times
Sunday, 19 August 2007

TV3's Target programme will this week detail how scientists found formaldehyde in woollen and cotton clothes at levels 500 times higher than is safe. It questions why there are no New Zealand safety standards for clothes. National Poisons Centre spokesman Dr John Fountain told the Sunday Star-Times the testing had highlighted an area where little was known in New Zealand about the effects tainted clothing would have on people.

However, international research supported by the World Health Organisation shows exposure to formaldehyde in concentrations of 20 parts per million (ppm) can cause eye, skin and nasal irritations, respiratory problems, asthma and cancer. The European Union limits formaldehyde residues in children's clothes to a maximum of 30ppm. The chemical is used to give a permanent press effect to clothes. Consumers are advised to wash and air all clothes before they are worn for the first time.

Target producer Simon Roy said a variety of new clothes were tested, including a girl's top, school shorts, a Spiderman T-shirt, and pyjamas. Adult clothing was also tested. Roy said the results were so astounding the AgriQuality scientists thought they had made a mistake. "Our results were shocking, ranging from 230ppm to 18,000ppm. This is almost unbelieveable. Some of the clothes Target tested have a reading 900 times the level that actually causes harm."

more: http://stuff.co.nz/4170189a10.html

*** - Well, I s'pose this will be some other CEO bastard who'll cry on teevee about how ashamed he is for being greedy. Right before he commits "suicide" in his cell, thus saving the state's bullet. And they'll take all the "bad batches" of clothing from the shelves to make room for the replacement shipment. From China.

And the band played on.....

[undergroundpanther]

1. I read that cancer rates are expected to soar

in the coming years I wonder why??

Could it beee.. Chhhiiinnnaa?

Cancer is the number one cause of death in China, with more than 1.1 million new cases diagnosed each year and close to 900,000 cancer deaths.
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/MED/content/MED_2_1x_Amid_Rising_Cancer_Rates_in_China_Leading_US_Surgeons.asp
And cancer rates are risiing here too. Coikidink?
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/1994/05/castleman.html
http://ourstolenfuture.com/Commentary/News/2002/2002-1016-WSJ-cancerincidence.htm

[DeSwiss]

5. I must say....

...that I was sort of surprised that New Zealand doesn't have standards for this substance in kid's clothes, although I doubt it would have made a bit of difference to the Chinese.

The one line in the article that did catch my eye: "Consumers are advised to wash and air all clothes before they are worn for the first time."

By all means, let's get that formaldehyde into the air and water and away from us. Sheesh. Talk about Darwin moments.....

[orleans]

2. i read toys r us are taking bibs off the shelves (the ones made in china

because they have lead in them)

[DeSwiss]

7. I'm fast coming to the conclusion....

...that we should stop importing merchandise from China and just import nothing but the chemicals that they're putting into everything we've been buying.

At least that way we'll KNOW there are chemicals in the chemicals.....

[Beerboy]

16. Chemicals in the chemicals!

DeSwiss, you need to take copyright of that phrase right away, that's way better than Dow/Monsanto's "A Better Life Through Chemicals'! What's not to lurve about Agent Orange?:9

[DeSwiss]

25. So you're saying that I should....

...give up trying to write the Great American Novel, and concetrate on slogans? Hmmm....

Peachy.

[StarryNite]

12. Maybe they could give them

to dentists to use for when X-rays are taken. :shrug:

Seriously though, I'm so sick and tired of all this toxic Chinese shit!

[orleans]

17. and then if you take it a step further--can you imagine what the people

in china have to live with and put up with? i'm sure we're not the only ones that country is poisoning. they've got to be doing it to their own people as well. i'm sure all these chemicals are not export specific.

[Truthiness Inspector]

19. Good observation n/t

[saracat]

3. When my kitty died from the pet food disaster, I wondered how Americans would

have reacted if it had been children.Sadly, in some cases, It appears we will soon know.

[Lucinda]

4. I'm so sorry that happened to you :(

A friends dog made it through...barely. Nasty stuff...

[saracat]

23. Thank you.iI am glad the dog made it.

[DeSwiss]

9. I'm sorry to hear about your loss....

...and I'm also afraid that I have to agree with you. I think that's the only thing that'll stop this madness.

[saracat]

24. Thank you for your kind words.I pray for the children.

[Bryn]

11. I am so sorry it happened to your kitty

I have 5 kitties that I love very much. What did you feed your kitty that killed her/him? I only use 9 Lives Tuna and Fancy Feast and dry food by Science Diet so they didn't get sick. I have started cooking for my service dog (hearing/signal dog) because of my fear of nasty food from China.

[saracat]

22. She ate Paws and special Kitty wet food as a treat.Both my cats usually ate only dry food

My boy cat didn't like the wet and only Sara ate it it was her Christmas treat and it killed her. The worst part is, not knowing it was the worst we could do, the vet, it wasn't his fault advised us to force feed her the food.No one knew the food had caused this.It was awful We are entered into a class action lawsuit.

[OneMoreDemocrat]

34. Stop feeding them that garbage.....

Feed only Pet Promise, Pet Guard (there's a few others out there)....foods that contain no preservatives, by-products and otherwise useless and harmful additives and ingredients. If you can, make their food yourself, there is no comparison to homemade whole food diets and what is sold to us in cans and labeled "Pet Food".

A great book on how to take care of and properly feed your animals so that they can obtain optimum health is "Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats".

Most commercial animal food is absolute poison.

It's great that you are feeding your dog food you prepare, I only suggest that you do the same for your other five furry friends.

[Beerboy]

13. Did your kitty die as a direct result of cheap Chinese "goods"?

I think the American companies should be held accountable for damages suffered to their customers, as they seem to be mere middlemen, brokers, and distributors of shoddy and dangerous foreign made crap anymore.
I'm sure the Bush government has America's best interests at heart!:beer:

[orleans]

14. yes, but they have been doing the matel & fisher price recall for

a week or two now and i haven't exactly heard people screaming over this.

i saw a news clip of some woman sitting in her child's toy room with a toy box in front of her as she held a couple sheets of paper, calmly resigned to go through the kid's toys--one by one.

where is the outrage, sara? seems i heard more of it with our pets.

maybe it's different because it was killing the cats and dogs; the effects it will have on kids is not so obvious and suddenly devastating.

[laundry_queen]

37. There is outrage.

I'm on several parenting boards and the parents are P.I.S.S.E.D. I'm not surprised you didn't see THAT on the corp. controlled news though. They are not wanting to let on how bad it is. They are, without a doubt, "Controlling the Message" on this little story.

[orleans]

48. well, i'm glad to see there is a p.o'd response out there...somewhere! n/t

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hekate]

8. KnR. Good gods. What next. nt

[southerncrone]

10. Holy sht!!!!!

:wtf: WTF is next w/China!

Damn, DeSwiss, how much more of this crap is poisoning us & our children & pets. If it were just the free-traders who were effected by this, I'd say "just desserts", but we all suffer from these stilted, unbalanced trade agreements.

China is slowly poisoning us, maybe that is why health care has gone crazy! Could this stuff be the cause of some of these "new" maladies we are seeing the US?
Like: fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, ADHD & ADD, sinus & respiratory problems, increased depression, restless leg syndrome, etc.

I boycott ANYTHING from China if I can, or do without it. We have given them so much $ w/our unbalanced trade agreements. We have funded their military which could be used against us at any time. We have also funded their purchase of our debt. All so a handful of tycoons could become even wealthier. This is insanity!

We could have kept the jobs in this country & not have incurred this trade imbalance that contributed to our debt....& families would not be struggling to make ends meet because our citizens would not be forced to take low paying & part-time jobs.

GRRR!! :grr:

[DeSwiss]

15. Hey southerncrone, we've been screening food....

...especially. Buying more fresh stuff at the Farmers Market. Just came from there today and spent less than half as much for the same amount we'd have gotten at Krogers. And it supports the local farmers to boot.

But I can't tell you what's at the bottom of all that's going on -- other than PURE GREED. Couple that with a nonexistent food and drug regulatory system, along with a revved economy in China determined to sell everything they can to the entire world -- it all seems out of control. And then we have Bush's cronies leading the way. Like with mine safety. And natural disasters.

Other than that, everything is just peachy.

[Shallah Kali]

50. Bbbbut Erin Burnet says prices @ WallMart will go up if they have to make food that isn't poisons!

and if China revalues their currency we won't be able to afford even the poisoned food and toys! Waaaaaaaaaaa!

MSNBCs Erin Burnett 'China is our greatest friend'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_B_lroC-XTM

[acmavm]

18. Apparently the Chinese have decided that they don't have to call in our

debt or send over their endless army and nukes to destroy the West. They're just gonna poison all our asses and get rid of us that way.

[DeSwiss]

26. That would be one....

...helluva revision to the "Little Red Book."

- But the idea has merit....

[NYC]

20. Recommended.

People need to be informed.

A few years ago, I was told to wash all clothes before wearing them. I hadn't realized it was because of toxic chemicals.

[DeSwiss]

27. Its that pungent....

...and sort of sour smell you get when you open the package with a new fresh shirt in it. Pure poison.

Of course I'm still trying to figure out why anyone would need to have a "permanent press look" on clothing, when in this case they're selling kid's pajamas. Its not like the kid's aren't going to get wrinkles in them. Is it?

[NYC]

40. Years ago, I read that permanent press sheets

had a coating of resin on them, and that's why they weren't as soft as "normal" cotton sheets.

Actually, they were called "no iron" sheets. 100% cotton, but resistant to wrinkles, and not as soft because of the resin coating.

I made the assumption resin came from trees. Despite that, I bought the "normal" 100% cotton sheets. Who cares if they need ironing? Who irons them?

Now, I'm wondering how much formaldehyde was used in sheets. Nice thing to sleep on and breathe all night. Same for the children's pajamas.

I've smelled new clothing that I thought smelled like kerosene or something. I thought the fuel had leaked on the ship, and contaminated the cargo. Who knows?

[KT2000]

51. Formaldehyde is in most textiles

They put more of it in sheets because they want it to last through washings.
Unless you buy "untreated and/or organic" sheets, there is formaldehyde in them. That goes for all textile products.
It is in most of your clothing as well.
Resin is a concoction of chemicals.
Formaldehyde has many uses for the manufacturer. The product looks higher quality when it is used, it prevents mold growth while in shipment or storage, as well as the no-iron feature.

The US does not have very high standards for formaldehyde as opposed to Japan that has strict limits and allows none of it in children's clothes. We allow it in children's clothes, crib sheets, blankets, soaps, shampoos, perfumes and air fresheners. Actually just about everything, especially building materials.

If you smell the kerosene smell - stay away from that please. Sometimes imported goods come in with pesticides - dangerous ones that are applied too heavily and some that have been banned in the US and Europe.

Try Googling textile chemicals - you will be shocked.

[B3Nut]

60. I have always hated new clothes for this reason

they always freaking STINK. When I do buy something new it gets washed once and sometimes twice with lots of Downy to drown out the chemical smell, and get some of the itchiness out. My favorite places to shop for clothes are the thrifts...almost everything's already broken in, and no chemical stench.

I've been sensitive to that ever since I was little, and it seems with some things it's gotten worse. Damn this race to the bottom to hell already!

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

[NYC]

64. Thanks for all the information.

I'm going to Google textile chemicals now. I probably won't sleep. The good news is that my sheets are natural cotton (the kind that need to be ironed). At least that won't keep me from sleeping.

:hi:

[libnnc]

21. Gotta lurve that unfettered, global free market, eh?

Regulations on our products? We don't need no stinking regulations on our products!


I hate what this administration has allowed and encouraged. :nuke:

[DeSwiss]

28. Well, as you know....

...this particular screed has it that:

"regulation adds to the cost of consumer goods." And in this competitive global environment with the good of the economy at stake, that this is why we can't afford to "fetter" business with undo and costly red tape and regulation. Competition will "weed out" the bad actors. And as everyone knows, there is no incentive in losing your customers."

That sound about right? Did I hit all the high points of this BS? Of course they never mention that "unfettering business" has its own costs. One that we're now beginning to see that we pay by risking our lives....

[Blue State Blues]

29. For those keeping score

Poison in pet food
Poison in toothpaste
poison in medicine
poison and filth in imported food
poison in plywood
poison in toys
and now poison in children's clothing.

And I've probably missed a few.

[NYC]

42. You missed the mattresses.

They're docked off Rotterdam. Too toxic. I guess we're all lucky they were caught. The question is always: What wasn't caught?

[left is right]

30. Something has been scratching at the back of my brain trying to get out

It seems to me that China's disregard for health is getting all of our attention and taking the focus off of American corporations/importers. I think they may be equally to blame. If an American company outsource a cheap little personal size radio--there are specifications the Chinese must meet: power supply/battery compartment size and shape; diameter of head phone receptor; ability to receive AM/FM or just FM; other things that are beyond my knowledge level. If the agreed upon specifications are not met the product is rejected.
All of this poisonous food and toxic clothing and toys are being ordered/commissioned by some corporation or another. Don't they set the specifications? Haven't they said, "No anti-freeze chemicals in toothpaste--absolutely, no lead paint in children's toys"? If not why not? If they don't oversee the products that they import, shouldn't we be holding the American Corporations accountable?

[Raksha]

39. What's absolutely the last straw is that the American corporations

that import and distribute this crap have now outsourced the TESTING! Someone who worked for Mattel about 10 years ago posted on DU, on a related thread (I think about lead paint on toys). This person said Mattel used to be so fanatical about safety standards their standards were actually higher than the government's. And of course they did all their testing in-house. But all that changed after some genius, concerned for the bottom line above everything, decided to let the same Chinese companies that manufactured the toys do the testing. Sheesh, talk about the fox guarding the henhouse...

[DeSwiss]

46. GREED. That is no doubt a large part of it....

...but some of it is just plain illegal. As in the case of Mr. Henry Fu and the bogus diabetes test strips:

The investigation found that a distributor in China was the source of about a million fake test strips that have turned up in at least 35 states and eight countries. The trail, initiated by calls to a LifeScan hot line, led detectives to 700 pharmacies where the products were sold, then to eight American wholesalers, then to two importers. One importer was in the United States and was found in a Las Vegas hotel room.

Records seized from the importers showed that the counterfeit strips were bought from Henry Fu and his company, Halson Pharmaceuticals, which is based in Shanghai. Mr. Fu was arrested by Chinese authorities and remains in prison in China.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2957494

Can anyone say: THE MOB?

[arikara]

43. Bingo bingo double bingo

They are the ones making all the profit off the toxic cheap crap imports, not the poor Chinese sweatshop workers. They are the ones that should be held accountable for importing it into the country.

They are now the ones sitting back silently while China is taking all the blame.

[Shallah Kali]

49. When things are sold way WAY below cost it is time to be wary. US corps went greedy

instead. Why should they care if a few thousand pets die horribly or kids end up brain damaged as long as they rake in the $? As long as we don't die off too quickly they will still make a buck or two off us and their pharmaceutical divisions will make a killing off our mystery illnesses.

[JerseygirlCT]

59. They absolutely should be held accountable.

But I suspect nothing will happen on that front until it becomes financially expedient for them to do so.

Class action lawsuits, anyone?

[ehrnst]

and ship those clothes to a third world country for their kids...

I hear that is what will happen with the returned toys...

[ehrnst]

31. and ship those clothes to a third world country for their kids...

I hear that is what will happen with the returned toys...

[DU GrovelBot]

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[cornermouse]

33. Boycott ALL Chinese goods.

If you can find American made, buy it. The answer is really obvious.

Oh and by the way, I couldn't find a way to contact Mattel online. It seems they're limiting contact to snailmail or phone only. Given that, I'm going straight to the "do not buy from Mattel" option.

[knitter4democracy]

35. I just bought all their school clothes last night.

Crap. I'm going to go through everything and see where it was all made (was rushing last night and knew I was going to make them try it all on anyway). Chinese stuff is going back.

I always wash everything, but I'm wondering if I should wash it twice to make double-sure it's washed out. Crap.

[knitter4democracy]

38. I talked with Hubby, a pre-med chem major before med school.

Formeldahyde is dissolvable in water, so that's why they say to wash and air out everything. He wants me to double-wash all the school clothes and then dry them and says it should be okay.

I'm taking some Chinese-made things back, though, since in going through all the school clothes this morning, we don't need all that and a lot doesn't fit. In reading through the labels, though, I found lots from Vietnam, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, and a couple from the U.S.A., which might not be American-made.

I'll use a vinegar-rinse, too, since an acidic rinse might get more out after the base-wash with the detergent.

[KT2000]

53. Dissolvable in water

BUT - manufacturers work to come up with a formula that will not wash out. That has been a goal of their's and they have been able to extend the amount of time the formaldehyde resins are kept in the fabric.

But you have a good idea on the vinegar.

[knitter4democracy]

58. They smell very different after the wash and vinegar rinse.

They don't have that odd smell very much at all now. I'm hoping one more wash and a dry will take care of much of the rest.

Oh, and I added Borax to the latest wash with the soap to help with our hard water. Maybe this batch (haven't checked it yet) will be better.

[OnionPatch]

36. Well, that's the last straw for me

From now on, I'm buying only American or European made everything. If I can even find it, that is. :mad:
Time to buy school clothes....here's a start: http://store.americanapparel.net/

[hedgehog]

41. My mom used to make most of our clothes, but even the cloth at the fabric

store is imported now. Take a look at your sheets and towels, too. It's getting harder and harder to find American made textiles of any sort.

[arikara]

44. You can still find vintage fabric cheap

on ebay. I'm only buying vintage stuff now as even US and Canadian manufactured stuff is likely made out of toxic imports from lord knows where.

[Vinnie From Indy]

45. Auctions are also a great source for things one needs

In addition to helping the environment, auction bought items are usually vintage or antique. Our house is filled with high quality, solid wood furniture bought at auction at a fraction of the cost of cheap stapled and glued particle board crap sold in stores nowadays. We have also picked up very high quality sheets and linens at pennies on the dollar.

In regard to kicthen appliances, there is no comparison. The quality and durability of older American made kicthen appliances except for stoves and refrigerators is far superior to the modern Made in China crap.

[WinkyDink]

47. Is Chris Matthews laughing yet? He had a fine chortle on his show last week about this topic.

I went shopping today at a Burlington Coat Factory. The women's shoes---my reason for going---were all "Made in China".
No, thank you.

[eastsyde]

52. I would have assumed it was MORE difficult to make poinson clothes.

I guess I've been proved wrong.:-(

[KT2000]

54. The formaldehyde

is used for many reasons. It makes textiles look higher quality, it makes the textiles wrinkle resistant and it prevents mold growth, something needed for storage and shipment, especially in humid climates.

It is a cheap chemical that solves many problems for the manufacturers. Unfortunately, it is used in so many products now that lots of people are becoming overdosed.

[eastsyde]

55. Thats really creepy.

I'm going to go check the tags in my shirts. :(

[KT2000]

57. It is in most

textile products unless you buy "untreated/organic" and pay a lot more.

It does sound like China is going for overkill though.

[mod mom]

56. Didn't you hear Chris Matthews say it's the Unions to blame (over reaction to Chinese

products)?

I guess according to Tweety we all should be okay with higher heath rates for our families/pets as long as it means greater profits for the robber barons.

[Beelzebud]

61. The Glories of Free Trade.

And to think about a month ago, I was called a racist, for posting about this sort of shit, by a DUer who "has a cousin that runs a factory in China".

Fuck Chinese made products.

Fuck Free Trade

[ecstatic]

62. Are we engaged in a one-sided silent war with China?

Are the poisonous toys, food, and clothing intentional acts of a silent-war? Either way the result is the same, I guess. :tinfoilhat:

[Quantess]

63. And the poor Chinese workers,

having to be exposed to it all day long at work.
What a rotten situation.

[sarcasmo]

65. Kick, Buy American.

http://store.americanapparel.net/men.html

http://www.verizonsupersite.com/islandslippercom/islandprooriginals/