What is OEK-TEX 100

What is OEK-TEX 100

OEKO-TEX Standard 100 was formulated by the OEKO-TEX International Environmental Textile Association in 1992. There are now 16 testing associations whose main task is to test harmful substances in textiles to determine their safety. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 is now the most widely used textile eco-mark. The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 stipulates a standard based on the latest scientific knowledge to set limits on the content of harmful substances in yarns, fibers and various textiles. Only manufacturers that provide provable quality guarantees in accordance with strict testing and inspection procedures are allowed to use the OEKO-TEX label on their products.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 main assessment items and sources of toxic substances:

1.PH value

The surface of human skin is weakly acidic, which is beneficial to prevent the invasion of germs. Therefore, the pH value of the textile directly in contact with the skin is between weakly acidic and neutral, which will not cause skin itchiness and damage the weak skin surface. Acidic environment.

2.Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a toxic substance, which is harmful to the protoplasm of biological cells. It can combine with proteins in organisms, change the structure of proteins and solidify them. Textiles containing formaldehyde will gradually release free formaldehyde during wearing and use. Through contact with human respiratory tract and skin, it will cause strong irritation to respiratory mucosa and skin, causing respiratory inflammation and dermatitis. Long-term effects will cause gastroenteritis, hepatitis, finger and toe nail pain. In addition, formaldehyde also has a strong irritation to the eyes. Generally, when the concentration of formaldehyde in the atmosphere reaches 4.00mg/kg, human eyes will feel discomfort. It has been clinically proven that formaldehyde is a significant cause of various allergies and may also induce cancer. The formaldehyde in the fabric mainly comes from the finishing process of the fabric. For example, it is used as a crosslinking agent in the anti-wrinkle and anti-shrinkage finishing of cellulose fibers. In the direct dye or reactive dye dyeing of cotton fabrics, to improve the color fastness to wet rubbing, it is finished with an anionic resin containing formaldehyde.

3.Extractable heavy metals

The use of metal complex dyes is an important source of heavy metals in textiles, and natural plant fibers may also absorb heavy metals from the soil or the air during the growth and processing process. In addition, some heavy metals may also be brought into the dye processing and textile printing and dyeing processes. The cumulative toxicity of heavy metals to the human body is quite serious. Once heavy metals are absorbed by the human body, they tend to accumulate in the bones and organs of the human body. When the heavy metals in the affected organs accumulate to a certain level, they will cause certain health hazards. This situation is more serious for children, because children's ability to absorb heavy metals is much higher than that of adults. The content of heavy metals in Oeko-Tex Standard 100 is equivalent to that of drinking water.

4.Chlorinated phenol (PCP /TeCP) and OPP

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a traditional mildew and preservative used in textiles, leather products, wood and wood pulp. Animal experiments have proved that PCP is a toxic substance, which is teratogenic and carcinogenic to humans. PCP is very stable, the natural degradation process is long and harmful to the environment, so it is strictly controlled in textiles and leather products. 2,3,5,6-Tetrachlorophenol (TeCP) is a by-product of the PCP synthesis process, which is equally harmful to the human body and the environment. OPP is mostly used in the slurry in the printing process of fabrics. It is a new test item added by Oeko-Tex Standard 100 in 2001.

5.Insecticides/herbicides

Natural plant fibers, such as cotton, are planted with a variety of pesticides, such as various insecticides, herbicides, defoliants, and fungicides. The use of pesticides in cotton cultivation is a must. If pests and weeds are not controlled, the yield and quality of fiber will be seriously affected. There is a statistic that if pesticides are banned in all cotton cultivation in the United States, it will reduce the country's cotton production by 73%. Obviously this is unimaginable. Part of the pesticides used during the growth of cotton will be absorbed by the fiber. Although most of the pesticides absorbed during the textile processing process are removed, some may still remain in the final product. These pesticides have different levels of toxicity to the human body, and are related to the amount of residues on the textiles. Some of them are easily absorbed by the human body through the skin and are quite toxic to the human body. However, if the fabric is fully scoured, the residual insecticide/herbicide and other harmful substances in the fabric can be effectively removed.

6.Organotin compounds (TBT/DBT)

Organotin compounds can damage the body's immune system and hormonal system, and are quite toxic. Oeko-Tex Standard 100 added it as a new test item in 2000. Organotin compounds are mainly used as preservatives and plasticizers in the textile production process.

7.Banned azo dyes

Studies have shown that some azo dyes can reduce some aromatic amines that are carcinogenic to humans or animals under certain conditions. After textiles/clothing use azo dyes containing carcinogenic aromatic amines, the dyes may be absorbed by the skin and spread in the human body during long-term contact with the human body. These dyes may undergo a reduction reaction to decompose carcinogenic aromatic amines under the conditions of a biochemical reaction that occurs in the normal metabolism of the human body, and change the structure of DNA through the activation of the human body, causing human disease and cancer. At present, there are about 2000 kinds of synthetic dyes circulating on the market, of which about 70% of synthetic dyes are based on azo chemistry, and dyes suspected of reducing carcinogenic aromatic amines (including certain pigments and non-azo dyes) ) About 210 species. In addition, some dyes do not have carcinogenic aromatic amines from the chemical structure, but due to the participation of intermediates in the synthesis process or imperfect separation of impurities and by-products, the presence of carcinogenic aromatic amines can still be detected, resulting in the final product Unable to pass the test.

8.Allergenic dyes

Disperse dyes are used when dyeing polyester, nylon, and acetate fibers. Certain disperse dyes have been shown to have sensitizing effects. At present, there are a total of 20 kinds of sensitizing dyes that cannot be used according to 100 kinds of Oeko-Tex Standard.

9.Chlorobenzene and chlorotoluene

The carrier dyeing process is a commonly used dyeing process for polyester fiber pure spinning and blended products. Because of its strict supramolecular structure and no active groups on the chain segments, the carrier dyeing process is often used when dyeing under normal pressure. . Some cheap chlorine-containing aromatic compounds, such as trichlorobenzene and dichlorotoluene are highly effective dye carriers. Adding a carrier during the dyeing process can expand the fiber structure and facilitate the penetration of the dye. However, studies have shown that these chlorine-containing aromatic compounds are harmful to the environment. It is potentially teratogenic and carcinogenic to the human body. But now, most factories have adopted high temperature and high pressure dyeing to replace the carrier dyeing process.

10.Color fastness

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 regards color fastness as a test item. It is considered from the perspective of ecological textiles that if the color fastness of textiles is not good, dye molecules and heavy metal ions may be absorbed by the human body through the skin, thus harming To the health of the human body. The color fastness items controlled by Oeko-Tex standard 100 include: fastness to water, to dry/wet rubbing, and to acid/alkali perspiration. In addition, the first-level products are also tested for saliva fastness.

Ruico produces flame retardant for textiles coating which have been registered in Oeko-Tex system. Ruico support every customer to provide safe and eco-friendly fabric to consumers.

Shawn

Regional Sales Manager

Zhejiang Ruico Advanced Materials Co., Ltd. (Stock No.873233)

Add: No.188, Liangshan Road, Linghu Town, Nanxun District, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, China 313018

Phone: +86 (572) 2903236

Fax: +86 (572) 2905222

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Cellphone: +86 15968208672

Website:www.ruicoglobal.com

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