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Zee Spot is proud to offer onezees dyed with azo-free or low impact dyes. Our onezees are processed with SKAL-approved bleaches (no toxic dioxins), dyes (no heavy metals), and finishing (no silicone or formaldehyde). FYI: Conventional cotton is treated with a myriad of chemicals - silicone waxes, harsh petroleum scours, softeners, brighteners, heavy metals, flame and soil retardants, ammonia and formaldehyde - to name just a few. Ouch! what's an azo dye? Azo compounds refer to synthetic inorganic chemical compounds. Aromatic azo compounds are usually stable and have vivid colours such as red, orange, and yellow. Therefore, they are used as dyes, also termed azo dyes. The textile industry has long used these dyes as a means of coloring garments (from what we dress our newborns in to your swish new top or trousers). the risk In short, some azo-based dyes (Azo dye group III A1 and A2) shed carcinogenic aryl amines as the garments are worn (they contain metallic elements) creating health risks, according to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. Azo-dyed garments may also contain toxic chemicals such as chlorine bleach. For example, your vibrant yellow sweater may contain an azo dye with 4-hydro-xyphenylazobenzene, or 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (and you didn't have to pay extra!). Given that baby's skin has a natural sensitivity and an undeveloped derma, the health risk of exposure to aromatic azo dyes is very high. The key benefit of azo-free dyes is the removal of the metallic component, which can create a textile-induced chemical sensitivity, or worse. As a precaution, Skal-certification requires the following dyes to be not be used in garments: disperse blue 1, disperse blue 35, disperse blue 106, disperse blue 124, disperse yellow 3, disperse orange 3, disperse orange 37/76 and disperse red 1.
A little known fact according to our good friend wikipedia; the name azo comes from azote, an old name of nitrogen that originates in French and is derived from the Greek a (not) + zoe (to live). source: Skal International. |
Leading the way in Europe... Textile labeling acts generally require information about the textile fiber composition to be disclosed, but not the finishing substances used; such as dyes, fire retardants or protective agents. The European Union has taken measures to reduce the harm to humans from garments by banning imports of textile and leather products with excess contents of azo dyes, because the use of these articles may cause cancer. According to the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment in Berlin, Germany, "Garment textiles may contain a number of chemical substances. The dyes, auxiliaries and finishing agents ensure colourfastness during washing, a stable shape or a crease-free garment. Biocides are sometimes used to obtain an anti-microbial effect. If the chemical substances used are not sufficiently bound to the textile, they may be released during wear and - depending on the scale of contact and the harmfulness of the substance - constitute a health risk"
related links EU Directive 2002/61/EC (azo colourants) [pdf]
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