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Chemical-laden towels a threat

Bath towels are rarely thought to pose a health hazard. But according to the Consumer Foundation, more than half of such towels on the market -- which people rub against their exposed skin each and every day -- contain dangerous chemicals that could affect the skin and respiratory system.

Last October, the foundation purchased 23 bath towels of different brands at wholesale stores, supermarkets and groceries and conducted a chemical analysis. The result showed that 66 percent of such towels contain fluorescent agents, which might cause skin problems, and 53 percent contain formaldehyde. Some bath towels that tested positive for both chemicals belong to famous brands.

The foundation strongly urged consumers to have bath towels laundered before using them -- or they could live to regret it.

Hsing Wen-hao (邢文灝), a professor of textile engineering at Chinese Culture University, said at a press conference yesterday that fluorescent agents were often used to make products look brighter and more colorful.

Cartoon-themed towels are a particular threat. The foundation's analysis suggests that all bath towels with cartoon patterns contain fluorescent agents, compared to only one- third of towels with pure colors.

Hsing said formaldehyde was often added to towels to make them shrink-proof.

Hsing said that certain fluorescent agents might affect the skin, leading to allergic reactions. Similarly, formaldehyde might enter the skin and respiratory system, having a negative health impact.

"However, it remains unconfirmed whether such chemicals cause cancer," Hsing said.

Levels of formaldehyde measured on just 12 of the bath towels tested by the foundation were under 75ppm, Taiwan's national regulation for textiles. And Taiwan's regulations are lax by comparison with some other countries.

"Similar regulations in Japan are stricter," foundation chairman Jason Lee (李鳳翱) said. "For textiles made for children under 24 months, the test on the chemical should be negative."

"Even in the EU, the maximum level of formaldehyde in textiles made for babies and children is only 20ppm," he said.

In addition, the foundation said that labels for some towels carry false information about the material they're made from.

Three bath towels, which were labeled 100 percent cotton actually contained other materials.

In a vivid display at a press conference yesterday, volunteers for the foundation even poured water on one such fake cotton towel to demonstrate its poor performance in absorbing water.

According to the foundation, since 1994 regulations have demanded clear descriptions for textiles.

Information about the manufacturer, size, fiber material and the appropriate washing and ironing method are required on the label.

However, a shocking 18 out of the 23 textiles tested did not have labels meeting these regulations.
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