Polyester fabric...?

[Former_Member]

Okay, so it looks like natural textiles (cotton, hemp, etc.) are exempt from testing, but what about man-made fabrics like 100% polyester. I've seen one site that says ALL fabrics and trims are exempt, but the rest only mention natural fabrics.

Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone here has any insight into this??

Thanks!!

[TwilightStarOracle]

polyester is oil turned into a fabric, polyester is plastic, plastic is made from oil. Polyester is exempt from testing, it has no lead in it. Fabrics either synthetic or natural are exempt dyed or undyed.

Several kids clothings nowadays is either polyester, spandex or cotton or all three or 2 of the above.

[Former_Member]

Here's what the CPSC has to say about which fabrics and fibers are exempt from lead testing. For the current full list of raw materials offically exempt from lead testing please read http://www.cpsc.gov/businfo/frnotices/fr09/leaddeterminationsfinalrule-draft.pdf

"13. Fabrics, dyes and similar materials.
Numerous commenters claimed that many fabrics, yarns, batting, fill, and similar materials (such as ribbon), and related materials (such as elastic), including those that are dyed or similarly processed, do not contain lead. In addition, some commenters requested a determination that fabric dyes comply with the lead content limits. The commenters provided data and other information to support their claims. Additionally, during a public meeting held on January 22, 2009, industry representatives, test laboratories, and stakeholders met with CPSC staff and presented materials and test data on lead levels in textile and apparel products. Several hundred test reports and analyses were submitted. The tests analyzed lead levels in various textile and apparel products, including a range of
daywear, sleepwear, and outerwear garments. Tests for lead were also conducted on the many functional and decorative components used on apparel items. These items include adornments (rhinestones and beads), closures and findings (buttons, snaps, and zippers), trims, and fasteners.
Information on the dye industry was also submitted by the Ecological Association of Dye and Organic Pigment Manufacturers (ETAD). ETAD states that it represents about 80% of worldwide dye manufacturers. According to ETAD, 80% or more of dyes used in commercial processing are organic carbon compounds and do not contain lead. Dyes used for cotton, other cellulosics, and polyester, the most commonly used fibers for apparel, account for 70% of total dye consumption. According to ETAD, these fibers use specific dye classes (e.g., disperse, direct, reactive) that would not contain lead. ETAD also recommends that its member companies follow lead limits of 100 ppm using a sampling and testing procedure that ensures the recommended limits.
a. Textiles
We reviewed the data pertaining to textile products intended for children and the general practices used in the textile industry and the modern production and coloration of textiles and apparel. [Refs. 1 and 3]. We conclude that most textile products are manufactured using processes that do not introduce lead or result in an end product that would not exceed the CPSIA's lead limits. Modern textile and apparel production practices are recognized and well characterized. With a few uncommon exceptions, modern production practices do not involve lead or lead-based chemicals.
In general, textile materials a~d products do not contain lead and have not undergone any processing or treatment that imparts lead resulting in a total lead content that exceeds the CPSIA total lead limits. Accordingly, new § 1500.91(d) (7) adds "Textiles" to the list of determinations. Additionally, with respect to fibers from natural sources, we find that natural fibers are natural materials and do not contain lead, whether they are dyed or undyed. [Ref. 3]. Examples of plant based fibers, from the seed, stem, or leaves of plants, include, but are not limited to, cotton, kapok, flax, linen, jute, ramie, hemp, kenaf, bamboo, coir, and sisal. Animal fibers, or natural protein fibers, include but are not limited to silk, wool (sheep), and hair fibers from alpaca, llama, goat (mohair, cashmere), rabbit (angora), camel, horse, yak, vicuna, qiviut, and guanaco. The final rule thus adds these natural fibers to § 1500.91 (d) (7) (a) (formerly proposed § 1500.91(c) (5)).
We also reviewed information pertaining to fibers that are not obtained from natural sources and are classified as manufactured or man-made. [Ref. 3]. Manufactured fibers are created by technology and are classified as
regenerated, inorganic, or synthetic. Regenerated fibers are made from natural ~aterials that are re£or~ed into usable fibers. These fibers include, but are not limited to, rayon, azlon, lyocell, acetate, triacetate, and rubber. Synthetic fibers are polymers created through a chemical process and include, but are not limited to, polyester, olefin, nylon, acrylic, modacrylic, aramid, and spandex. The information we have indicates that manufactured fibers are produced in controlled environments by processes that do not use lead or incorporate lead at any time during their production, whether they are dyed or undyed. Consequently, we have added these manufactured fibers as a new § 1500.91 (d) (7) (b); specifically, the new provision refers to "Manufactured fibers (dyed or undyed) including, but not limited to, rayon, azlon, lyocell, acetate, triacetate, rubber, polyester, olefin, nylon, acrylic,
modacrylic, aramid, spandex."
b. Dyes
We also examined the dyes used on textiles. [Refs. 1 and 3]. Dyes are organic chemicals that can be dissolved and made soluble in water or another carrier so they can penetrate into the fiber. Dyes can be used in solutions or as a paste for printing. Commercial dyes are classified by chemical composition or method of application. Many dyes are fiber specific. For example, disperse dyes are used for dyeing polyester, and direct dyes are used for cellulosic fibers. Dyes can be applied to textiles at the fiber, yarn, fabric, or finished product stage. Dye colorants are not lead based. Although no~ typical, some dye baths may contain lead. However, even if tr.e dye bath contains lead, the colorant that is retained by the finished textile after the rinsing process would not contain lead above a non-detectable lead level.
In contrast to dyes, pigments are either organic or inorganic. Pigments are insoluble in water, are applied to the surface of textile materials, and are held there by a resinous binder. Binders used with pigments for textiles are non-lead based. Processes that are lead-based are used for some industrial textiles that require a greater level of colorfastness or durability, but are not typically intended for apparel textiles. Although most pigments do not contain lead, there may be some lead based paints and pigments on non-textile materials that may be directly incorporated into textile products or added to the surface of textiles, such as decals, transfers, and screen printing. All such non-textile components must be tested for lead content under section 102 of the CPSIA unless they are made entirely from materials that the Commission has determined would not contain lead in excess of the CPSIA lead limits. Since we are allowing the use of dyes and pigments on textile materials, we have revised proposed § 1500.91(c) (now renumbered as § 1500.91(d)) to remove "o~ chemicals such as pigments, dyes, coatings, finishes or any other substance, nor undergone any processing." However, we have excluded from "Textiles" under new paragraph § 1500.91(d) (7), any textiles that are "after-treatment applications, including screen prints, transfers, decals, or other prints."
c. Leather
Although leather is not made from fibers like most textiles, it may be used to produce apparel and coverings or may be used along with textile products. Leather begins as natural products, but they undergo processing (e.g., tanning) to convert the natural skin into a usable, durable product. Similar to most textile products, leather products are often colored with dyes or pigments during their processing. Many of the same dyes used in the textile industry also are used for dyeing leather. According to information submitted by the Leather Industries of America, many processes used to process and finish leather do not use lead or lead-based chemicals.
However, many leather products may be finished with
pigment-based coatings l including some that are colored using lead-based pigments. [Refs. 1 and 3] . CurrentlYI any children/s leather product that has paint or a similar surface-coating material is subject to the lead paint ban at 16 CFR part 1303. Products that are finished with such coatings are subject to the testing and certification for lead paint under section 102 of the CPSIA. Section 1303.2 (Definitions) specifically provides that paint or other similar surface coating includes application on wood, stone, paper, leather, cloth, plastic or other surface. The treatment that could potentially impart lead onto leather is the application of leaded pigment onto the surface of the leather product. We deleted the term "untreated" before the word "leather" from former § 1500.91 (c) (6) (now renumbered as § 1500.91 (d) (8)) because, as discussed in part D.7 of this preamble, § 1500.91(a)
makes explicit that the determinations do not cover any material in a children/s product that has paint or similar surface-coating materials subject to 16 CFR part 1303. Such materials and products must comply with the testing and certification requirements for lead paint under section 102 of the CPSIA.
d. Other comments
Several commenters, including the Organic Trade
Association, stated that certifications based or-standards such as the Global organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and Oeko-Tex® should be allowed in place of testing for compliance with the CPSIA lead content requirements.
Because the Commission has determined that textiles fall under the lead content limits, the Commission will not require testing on textiles under section 102 of the CPSIA. However, even when a particular product or material has been relieved of the requirement to undergo testing and certification under section 102 of the CPSIA, manufacturers and importers are responsible for verifying that the material or product has not been altered or modified, or experienced any change in the processing, facility or supplier conditions that could impart lead into the material or product and ensure that the material or product meets the statutory lead levels at all times. With respect to the GOTS and Oeko-Tex® standards, we believe that certifications from GOTS and Oeko-Tex® would serve to provide such verifications for textiles. Both GOTS and Oeko-Tex® standards limit lead content in certain textile products to no more than 100 ppm lead."

[TwilightStarOracle]

or read this specifically Table A and Table B

http://www.cpsc.gov/about/cpsia/smbus/manufacturers.html#ta

[Former_Member]

Marking, thanks

[MeowWow]

Marking....thank you!

[Former_Member]

so much to read...

[Versabella]

OMG, way too much to read! I'll mark it to read them later.

[Former_Member]

I'm with FuchstBags ...but I'm sure I will need it.

[TwilightStarOracle]

I understand Jewlrey left too much to read however if you read just under her book I left a link of what is except from testing, please check table B for list of materials you can use without worry. Nylon is sythetic as well as polyester, both in fabric dyed or undyed are except.

[Former_Member]

marking

[Former_Member]

marking