Have you ever considered hidden chemicals in your clothing and home textiles? The latest research of scientists from RECETOX, Masaryk University (Brno, Czech Republic), and the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Leipzig, Germany) reveals how various fabrics absorb and release harmful aromatic amines (AAs) compounds linked to cancer and other health risks. This research is especially important because by studying the most common fabric types, we can better predict how these chemicals behave in indoor environments.
What Are Aromatic Amines and Why Should We Care?
Aromatic amines (AAs) are harmful chemicals found in everyday products like hair dyes, rubber materials, and tobacco smoke. “Indoor activities such as protein-enriched foods and smoking release these compounds into the air, directly impacting human health. While regulations restrict some AAs due to their toxicity, others remain widely used . Long-term exposure increases the risk of cancer and other serious health problems,” explains first author of the study Özge Edebali.
Surprisingly, textiles can trap AAs from the air and later release them, contributing to indoor pollution. Since we spend most of our time indoors, understanding how different fabrics interact with AAs can help us reduce exposure and improve indoor air quality. Moreover, washing contaminated fabrics can also send these chemicals into wastewater, threatening aquatic ecosystems.
“The research tested how different textiles—cotton, wool, and polyester—absorb and release AAs indoors. The test was conducted in a specially designed chamber, where different textiles were exposed to AAs. Afterward, AAs were measured in textiles and in the air as well. The finding is that cotton absorbed the highest levels, making it a significant source of chemical exposure,” says Özge Edebali.
These everyday fabrics act as hidden reservoirs, transferring pollutants into indoor air and even our waterways through laundry. Understanding this process is key to reducing exposure and creating safer indoor environments.
The project results were created with the financial support of the provider Czech Science Foundation within the project no.GF22-06020K and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinscha (DFG, German Research Foundation) – MU 4728/2-1. The authors thank the RECETOX Research Infrastructure (LM2023069) financed by The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for a supportive background. This work was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 857560 (CETOCOEN Excellence).
Published in Environmental Sciences: Processes & Impacts
https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EM00015G
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