Formaldehyde
Required limit value:
20 mg/kg for textiles and leather goods for children under the age of two. 75 mg/kg for all clothing and related accessories, as well as textiles and leather goods that under normal or reasonably foreseeable conditions of use, come into direct contact with the human skin to an extent similar to clothing. 300 mg/kg for all other textiles and leather goods.
CAS RN:
50-00-0
Properties:
Formaldehyde is a volatile colourless gas that is CMR classified according to Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP). Occurs naturally in small quantities in the atmosphere and in nature. Formaldehyde is a human carcinogen that also can cause skin irritation and allergy.
Use:
Shrinkage-resistant treatment. Wrinkle-resistant treatment. Dirt-repellent treatment. Dye fixing agent. Preservative. Organic cross linkers are used in synthetic tanning of leather (“synthans”) and may release formaldehyde.
Comments:
Use products without formaldehyde or with very low concentrations of formaldehyde. Due to its volatility, formaldehyde is “contagious”. If a garment containing formaldehyde is placed on top of a garment without formaldehyde, the latter garment will be “infected”. Fabric samples for testing must be packed in air dense plastic bags (polyethylene, PE, or polypropylene, PP).
CHEMICALS GUIDANCE | Edition: January 2020 | © 2020 Textilimportörerna/Swedish Chemicals Group - RISE IVF
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