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Formaldehyde contained in textile products

Last Updated July 24, 2024

This is the site of Health Sanitation Division, Health and Safety Department, Yokohama City Public Health Center. We provide information on the hygiene of household goods.

About formaldehyde

Illustration of health hazards caused by textile products

Some clothing items are processed using chemicals to prevent wrinkles and shrinkage. Formaldehyde (formalin) may be detected in some form of processing agents commonly used in these.
Formaldehyde is a highly irritating substance and can cause allergies.
Contacting fiber products with high concentrations of formaldehyde can cause skin disorders such as rashes and allergies.

The baby's skin is binkan.

Illustration of washing machine

In the case of a baby, it is more sensitive to the skin than an adult, and it licks clothes, so it may enter the body through the mouth.
For this reason, the standards for infant textile products under 2 years old are stricter than other textile products.
Formaldehyde is easily soluble in water, so wash your baby's clothing before using it.
In addition, formaldehyde has the property of being easily absorbed into clothing.
Formaldehyde is contained in plywood adhesives such as furniture and cigarette smoke, so be careful when storing clothes and ventilating rooms.

Illustration

Do you wear clothes too?

Today's clothing uses many kinds of chemical substances in processing, as the word "clothing is also made up."
Recently, the number of cases of dermatitis due to formaldehyde has decreased, but allergies due to certain types of fungicides and dyes have been found.
If you feel any abnormality, please consult your specialist or Health Sanitation Division Health and Welfare Center as soon as possible.

Inquiries to this page

Health Sanitation Division, Medical Care Bureau Health and Safety Department

Telephone: 045-671-2456

Telephone: 045-671-2456

Fax: 045-641-6074

Email address: ir-seikatsueisei@city.yokohama.lg.jp

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Page ID: 179-080-879

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