From Clothing to Laundry Water: Assessing Human Exposure and Chemical Footprint of Alkylphenol Ethoxylates
Source abstract
Abstract
The production and processing of textile and apparel products involve the use of various chemicals. These chemicals, such as alkylphenol ethoxylates (APEOs), are released during washing and wearing and may be potentially harmful to humans and the aquatic environment. The primary objective of this research was to investigate the effect of laundering on nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) and octylphenol ethoxylates (OPEOs) in textiles. We performed washing experiments on nine unwashed textile samples. The results showed that the levels of NPEOs and OPEOs were significantly reduced after washing compared to the initial levels, and the release rates during washing ranged from 63% to 98%. However, it may not be possible to completely remove residual APEOs from clothing by washing. The total exposure dose to infants wearing unwashed textiles was approximately 2.7–50.1 times that of washed textiles, with oral exposure accounting for 35.7–53.5% of the total exposure dose. Furthermore, nine samples had a chemical footprint after washing of up to 114 PAF·m 3 ·day. Given these findings, meticulous attention should be directed toward auxiliary selection and the formulation of eco-friendly alternatives throughout the textile production lifecycle.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals · Microplastics and Plastic Pollution · Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
School of Fashion Design & Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
Shenzhen IMPAQ Testing Technology Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
Research Center of Digital Intelligence Style and Creative Design, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
College of Textile Science and Engineering (International Institute of Silk), Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
Green and Low-Carbon Technology and Industrialization of Modern Logistics, Zhejiang Engineering Research Center, Wenzhou, China
Funding
Science Foundation of Zhejiang SciTech University · Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China
References (27)
Show source-provided references
1. 10.1016/j.envint.2008.03.00110.1016/j.envint.2008.03.001 ↗
2. 10.1021/es972366q10.1021/es972366q ↗
3. 10.1021/es010904010.1021/es0109040 ↗
4. 10.1016/S0048-9697(96)05386-710.1016/S0048-9697(96)05386-7 ↗
5. Roos S. · 2016
6. Molander S
7. 10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00650.x10.1111/j.1553-2712.2009.00650.x ↗
8. 10.1021/acs.est.6b0203810.1021/acs.est.6b02038 ↗
9. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) Committee for Socio-economic Analysis (SEAC) background document, 2014, https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13641/final_background_doc_nonylphenol.pdf/8bdb40dc-1367-480e-8d81-b5d308bc5f81 (accessed 11 October 2024).
10. Danish Ministry of the Environment. Survey and environmental and health assessment of nonylphenol and nonylphenol ethoxylates in textiles, 2013, https://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/2013/02/978-87-92903-94-5.pdf (accessed 5 June 2024).
11. UK Environment Agency (UK EA). Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE) in imported textiles, 2013, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nonylphenol-ethoxylates-npe-in-imported-textiles
12. 10.1007/s11267-008-9186-610.1007/s11267-008-9186-6 ↗
13. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Nonylphenol (NP) and nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs), 2010, https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/nonylphenol-np-and-nonylphenol-ethoxylates-npes (accessed 17 January 2024).
14. Zhu M · 2008
15. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment. Chapter R.15: Consumer exposure estimation. Guidance for the implementation of REACH, 2016, https://echa.europa.eu/guidance-documents/guidance-on-information-requirements-and-chemical-safety-assessment (accessed 21 December 2023)
16. 10.1016/j.envres.2023.11526410.1016/j.envres.2023.115264 ↗
17. Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR). Introduction to the problems surrounding garment textiles, 2012, https://www.bfr.bund.de/cm/349/introduction-to-the-problems-surrounding-garment-textiles.pdf (accessed 17 December 2023).
18. 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.11790510.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117905 ↗
19. 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.11950610.1016/j.envpol.2022.119506 ↗
20. European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Guidance on information requirements and chemical safety assessment. Chapter R.15: Consumer exposure estimation, 2009. https://www.echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/13632/information_requirements_r15_en.pdf/35e6f804-c84d-4962-acc5-6546dc5d9a55 (accessed 11 October 2024).
21. 10.1016/j.procir.2018.01.00110.1016/j.procir.2018.01.001 ↗
22. 10.1002/ieam.147110.1002/ieam.1471 ↗
23. 10.1021/es503797d10.1021/es503797d ↗
24. Fantke P. USEtox 2.0 documentation, 2018, https://usetox.org/model/documentation (accessed 11 January 2024)
25. Fan J · China Fiber Inspect · 2023 · 7 · 71
26. 10.1289/ehp.753410.1289/ehp.7534 ↗
27. Danish Veterinary and Food Administration (DVFA). Toxicological evaluation and limit values for nonylphenol, nonylphenol ethoxylates, tricresyl, phosphates and benzoic acid, 2000. https://www2.mst.dk/Udgiv/publications/1999/87-7909-566-6/pdf/87-7909-565-8.pdf (acces-sed 11 October 2024).