SAFETY OF LEATHER GOODS

SAFETY OF LEATHER GOODS

• In case of the leather industry, measures are
mainly targeted at preventing hazards
through chemicals and keeping exposure to
dust as low as possible.
• Chemicals used for several process steps, with
tanning (Process in which skin pigmentation
darkens as a result of exposure to ultraviolet
light) being a very important one.
 SAFETY OF LEATHER GOODS
• Substances like pesticides, solvents, dyes,
finishing agents and processing chemicals are
frequently toxic and persistent (never-
ceasing), both to the environment and to
human health.
• The health problems and safety regulations
here are associated with chemicals are
primarily related to skin contact or inhalation
of hazardous chemicals.
 SAFETY OF LEATHER GOODS
• Exposure to certain chemicals could lead for
example to disability, illness and even death
in the long term.
• The chemicals used in tanning and other
operations may be hazardous individually or
when mixed.
• A number of fatal accidents have occurred
world wide due to the unintended generation
of toxic hydrogen sulphide gas .
 SAFETY OF LEATHER GOODS
• These accidents where not only fatal for
employees; the surrounding community was
heavily affected too.
• It showed that occupational health & safety is
more than the well being of employees.
•  Exposure, toxic effects, and the percentage
of chemicals used in the leather products
should therefore adhere to the standards set
by the authorities.
Country Wise Legislation Laws restricting the
content of “Azo dyes” in Leather Products

• Azo dyes are often used in the coloring

process of several textiles and leather
products.
• Recently it has been recognized that some Azo
coloring agents may form amines (breakdown
products), which have carcinogenic and
mutagenic (capable of inducing mutation)
properties.
 European Union Legislation Laws For Leather Products

• The European Union restricts the marketing

and use of certain dangerous substances and
preparations (Azo colorants) in leather
products.
• The legislation is relevant for all products
made of leather or in which leather is used
and which come into direct and prolonged
contact with the skin and mouth.
 European Union Legislation Laws For
Leather Products
• These include producers of textiles and
garments, leather goods, shoes, toys,
furniture, decorative articles, jewellery and
accessories.
 EU legislation: Azo dyes in leather articles

• Azo dyes are often used in the coloring

process of textiles and leather.
• Part of these dyes has the capacity to release
certain aryl amines which pose cancer risks.
EU legislation: Azo dyes in leather articles

• For this reason, the European Union laid

down legislation to prevent exposure to these
hazardous aryl amines.
• This indirectly implies that those azo dyes that
can split into these restricted amines can no
longer be used to dye textile and leather
products that come into contact with the skin.
 Outline of the requirements of Directive 2002/61/EC

• The European Commission has published

legislation restricting the use of azo dyes
which can release one or more specified
amines in textile and leather articles.
• This legislation is laid down in Directive
2002/61/EC, amending Directive 76/769/EEC
on the marketing and use of dangerous
substances and preparations.
 Outline of the requirements of Directive
2002/61/EC
• The aim of the Directive is to protect the
consumers’ health in the EU.
• The Directive is applicable to all leather
products that may come into direct and
prolonged contact with the human skin or
oral cavity.
• The examples of products listed are:
 Outline of the requirements of Directive
2002/61/EC

• Clothing, bedding, towels, hairpieces, wigs,

hats, nappies and other sanitary items,
sleeping bags.
• Footwear, gloves, wristwatch straps,
handbags, purses/wallets, briefcases, chair
covers, purses worn around the neck.
• Leather toys or leather garments.
 Outline of the requirements of Directive
2002/61/EC
• The Directive establishes that the products
covered by the legislation may not contain
the 22 amines listed in a concentration above
the limit of 30 ppm.
• This limit, 30 ppm, equals the detection limit.
• All parts of a product should comply with this
limit, and that this limit applies to each amine
separately.
 Outline of the requirements of Directive
2002/61/EC
• E.g. a textile shoelace of leather footwear
needs to comply with the limit of 30 ppm, as
well as the leather parts of footwear.
• It is not allowed to take the average
concentration of a certain amine in the
complete product.
 The UK legislation: Azo dyes in leather articles

• The restricted use of azo dyes in textile and

leather articles as established in Directive
2002/61/EC and amended by 2004/21/EC was
implemented in the United Kingdom by the
Controls on Certain Azo Dyes and "Blue
Colorant" (Amendment) Regulations.
 The UK legislation: Azo dyes in leather articles

• The UK legislation is a direct transposition

(replacement) of the EU legislation.
• This means that the UK legislation sets the
same requirements as the EU Directive.
• The table below provides a summary of the
legislation:
 The UK legislation: Azo dyes in leather
articles
Substance (CAS number)*:
• Azo dyes that may split into harmful amines
(92-67-1, 92-87-5, 95-69-2, 91-59-8, 97-56-3,
99-55-8, 106-47-8, 615-05-4, 101-77-9, 91-94-
1, 119-90-4, 119-93-7, 838-88-0, 120-71-8,
101-14-4, 101-80-4, 139-65-1, 95-53-4, 95-80-
7, 137-17-7, 90-04-4 and 60-09-3)
Products:
• Leather articles which may come into direct
and prolonged contact with the skin or mouth.
 The UK legislation: Azo dyes in leather
articles
Requirement:
• Limit: 30 ppm
Status:
• Existing implementation of EU legislation
Source:
• The Controls on Certain Azo Dyes and "Blue
Colourant" (Amendment) Regulations.
 The UK legislation: Azo dyes in leather
articles
• * A CAS number is a unique identifying
number assigned to chemicals by the
Chemical Abstracts Service.
Legislation Laws restricting the content of “Chromium” in Leather Products

• Hexavalent chromium, abbreviated as Cr(VI) is

a substance hazardous to health.
• Cr (VI) can for example cause allergenic
reactions in people.
• The substance itself is not used in the leather
tanning process, but can be formed from the
use of Chrome III.
• However, if the tanning process is optimized,
the Cr (VI) level can be as low as the detection
limit.
 Germany Legislation- Chromium in Leather Products

• The General product safety requirements in

Germany are laid down in the LMBG
(Lebensmittel und Bedarfsgegenstände
Gesetz).
• Governments use such general requirements
to protect consumers for products for which
there is not any specific legislation.
Germany Legislation- Chromium in Leather
Products
• In Germany, it is forbidden to manufacture or
distribute commodities in such a way, that "if
used properly or as anticipated, they may
constitute a danger to health on account of
their material composition, particular through
toxicological substances or impurities."
 Germany Legislation- Chromium in Leather
Products
• Considering the hazardous nature of
Hexavalent Chromium, the German
enforcement authorities strongly advise all
those marketing leather products in Germany
to ensure that the Cr(VI) content of the
leather should not exceed 3 ppm.
Germany Legislation- Chromium in Leather
Products
Substance:
• Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI))
CAS Number:
• 7440-47-3
Products:
• Leather products
 Germany Legislation- Chromium in Leather
Products
Requirement:
• It is strongly advised not to market leather products
in which the
Status:
• Chromium content exceeds 3 ppm.
• Interpretation of general product safety
requirement
Source:
• Lebensmittel und Bedarfsgegenstände Gesetz
 JAPAN

Restrictions on Harmful Substances:

• Handling baby and children’s wear demands
observing the Law for the Control of
Household Products Containing Harmful
Substances.
• These restrictions are under the jurisdiction of
the Office of Environmental Chemicals Safety,
Environmental Health Bureau, Ministry of
Health and Welfare, and the restrictions also
apply to goods other than clothing.
 JAPAN
• Details of the restrictions on baby and
children’s wear grouped according to type of
harmful substances are shown in the
following table:
 JAPAN
Harmful Products Covered Standard Toxicity
Substance

DTTB Underwear, night 30 ppm or Percutaneous &

clothes, gloves, socks, less peroral acute
intermediate clothes, toxicity, hepatic
outerwears disorder & genital
disorder.
Dieldrin Diaper covers, 30 ppm or Hepatic disorder &
underwears, less central nerve
nightclothes, gloves, disorder.
socks, intermediate
clothes, outerwears &
caps
 JAPAN
Harmful Products Covered Standard Toxicity
Substance
Formaldehyd (a) Diapers, diaper 75 ppm or Mucosa
e covers, bibs, less stimulative &
underwears, skin allergies
nightclothes, gloves,
socks, inetrmediate
wears, outerwears &
caps for babies 24
months old or less.
(b) Underwear,
nightclothes, gloves &
socks.
 RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES LIST (RSL )

• This Restricted Substances List (RSL) was

created by a special working group of the
American Apparel & Footwear Association’s
(AAFA) Environmental Task Force.
• The RSL is intended to provide apparel and
footwear companies with information related
to regulations and laws that restrict or ban
certain chemicals and substances in finished
home textile, apparel, and footwear products
around the world.
 RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES LIST (RSL )

• The following slides list the various chemicals,

and application areas and also the raw
materials, component parts, chemicals,
sundries (miscellaneous objects too
numerous or too small to be specified) and
other things of value in which they can be
expected.
 NICKEL

• Nickel is a metal element that may be present

as either a pure metal or as nickel
compounds, e.g., salts.
• Nickel metal is mainly used for plating of
alloys, improving the corrosion resistance in
alloys, improving the hardness of alloys and is
a key element in the production of stainless
steel.
 NICKEL
• Nickel compounds can be used as pigments
and as fixing agents.
• Both nickel metal and nickel compounds can
occur as an impurity in pigments and alloys.
• Apps: Metal parts, natural fibers, man made
fibers.
 ANTIMONY
• Antimony is a metal that may be present as
either a pure metal, or as a compound, e.g.,
salts.
• Antimony can be used as a catalyst in
polymerization of polyester.
• Antimony compounds can be used as flame
retardants, fixing agents and can be found in
pigments.
• Apps: leather, manmade fiber, natural fibers,
metal parts.
 ARSENIC
• It can be present as a pure metal, as non-
metal or as arsenic compound.
• Arsenic and its compounds can be used in
some preservatives, pesticides and defoliants
for cotton.
• Apps: leather, manmade fiber, natural fibers,
metal parts.
 CHROMIUM
• Chromium is a metal element that is present
as a pure metal or as chromium compounds.
• Chromium compounds can be used as dyeing
additives, dye-fixing agents, for after
treatments in order to improve color
fastness.
• Dyes for wool, silk and polyamide textiles
could contain chromium complexes,
especially for dark shades.
 CHROMIUM
• Chromium salts are used for tanning of
leather.
• Apps: leather, manmade fiber, natural fibers,
metal parts.
 COBALT
• Cobalt is a metal that is present as a pure
metal or as cobalt compounds.
• Cobalt compounds can be used as pigments.
• Cobalt metal can be used in metal alloys.
• Apps: leather, manmade fiber, natural fibers,
metal parts.
 LEAD
• Lead is a metal element that is present as a
pure metal or as lead compounds.
• Lead compounds can be used as stabilizers for
plastics, in pigments for textiles or paints,
e.g., surface paints on zippers and buttons, as
well as in prints on plastic products.
• Apps: leather, manmade fiber, natural fibers,
metal parts.
 MERCURY
• Mercury is a metal element that would not be
normally found in its metallic form.
• Mercury will form compounds with other
chemicals, e.g., salts.
• Mercury compounds can be present in
pesticides and can be found as a contaminant
in caustic soda.
• Mercury compounds can be used in paints,
e.g., surface paints on zippers and buttons.
 PHTHALATES
• Used as softener (plasticizer) in plastics, print
pastes, adhesives and other products.
• Up to 50% of soft PVC plastic can be a
phthalate softener, but other plastics or
prints can contain phthalates as well.
• Plastic buttons could contain phthalates.
• Apps: prints, plastics and rubber
 ORGANOTIN COMPOUNDS
• Mainly used as stabilizers in plastic/rubber
but also as anti-bacterial agents in textiles.
• Can be found in anti corrosion coatings in
drums.
• Used as catalysts in plastic production.
• Apps: Prints, plastics and rubber, leather.
 PHENOLS

• Phenols are sometimes used to prevent mold

(spoil due to humidity) when growing cotton
and when storing/transporting fabrics.
• Phenols can be used as a preservative in print
pastes.
• Apps: natural fibers, man made fibers, prints,
plastics, and rubber, leather and paper
 ISOCYANATES
• Isocyanates are used in the production of
polyurethane plastics and foams.
• App: fabrics
 PCBs
• PCB - Poly Chlorinated Biphenyl.
• These are large molecules containing many
chlorine atoms.
• They are mainly used as pesticides, but also as
softeners, carriers and flame retardants.
 CHLORINATED BLEACHING AGENTS

• Used for bleaching textiles, paper etc

 SOLVENTS
• Organic solvents are mixtures of volatile,
commonly petroleum-derived chemicals.
• Many contain large amounts of chlorinated
derivatives.
• Solvents are used whenever something is
needed to be dissolved, for example, in the
dyeing/printing process, when removing
spots on ready made garments and for
dissolving the glue when making shoes.
Perflourinated Alkylated Substances (PFAS)

• Included in a group of chemicals called

fluorocarbons.
• They are surfactants known to be stable, not
sensitive to heat and to repel both water and
oily compounds.
• Used in the production of fluoropolymers
which are used as impregnating agent on
textiles, e.g., water repellents.
 Azo Dyes and Pigments
• Aromatic amines can be a part of the
molecular structure in AZO dyes used both for
natural and synthetic materials.
• For dyeing textiles, prints and leather
products.
• Both pigments and dye stuff may contain
banned amines.
• App: Natural fibers, man made fibers, leather,
prints, plastics and rubber.
 DISPERSE DYES

• Disperse dyes are molecules that can

penetrate the fiber system of polyester.
• It is not chemically bonded to the fiber but
trapped inside the fiber by physical forces.
• Some disperse dyes are also banned azo dyes
as they can cleave (adhere) to form the
restricted amines.
 DISPERSE DYES
• Mainly for dyeing polyester fibers but also
polyamide, acetate, viscose and other man-
made fibers.
• App: Man made fibers, prints, plastics and
rubber.
 OTHER DYES
• For dyeing textiles and other materials.
 FLAME RETARDANTS
• To decrease the flammability of the product,
e.g., lowering the energy (heat) of the flame.
 FORMALDEHYDE

• Formaldehyde is volatile (evaporating readily

at normal temperatures and pressures)and
colorless and is present in small amounts in
the atmosphere, tobacco smoke, glue and air
pollution.
• Due to its volatility, formaldehyde is
"contagious (easily diffused or spread)".
• If a garment with formaldehyde is placed on
top of a garment that does not contain
formaldehyde, the other garment may
become "infected".
 FORMALDEHYDE
• Fabric samples for testing need to be packed
separately in plastic bags.
• Formaldehyde or formaldehyde releasing
compounds can, for example, be used for pre-
shrinkage, easy-care and pre-crinkle
treatment, and for fixation or preservation of
dyes and prints.
• App: Natural fibers, man-made fibers, prints,
plastics and rubber, leather and paper.
 PVC
• PVC (poly vinyl chloride) is a plastic that can
be soft or hard, transparent or colored.
• PVC may contain phthalates, organotin
compounds, lead and cadmium.
• In the textile industry PVC could be used to
make soft plastic accessories like badges,
sequins (small piece of shiny material used to
decorate clothing) and zip pullers or as
coating on textiles for rainwear and prints.
 PVC
• Various kinds of prints might be made out of
PVC.
• App: Prints, plastics and rubber.