Preliminary findings presented at a recent American Chemical Society meeting indicate that inexpensive, brightly colored children’s t-shirts contained lead above the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 100 parts per million (ppm) limit.
The team, led by Dr. Kamila Deavers of Marian University with students Cristina Avello and Priscila Espinoza, tested 11 shirts and reported that all exceeded the limit. The highest levels were often found in clothes with bright colors like red and yellow. The researchers believe this pattern is tied to how certain dyes are fixed to fabric during production, according to Daily Mail Online. They emphasized that experts consider there to be no safe level of lead exposure.
The team detected lead directly in the fabric, not in metal accessories. This differs from earlier investigations focused on zippers, snaps, or other hardware.
Most likely to put clothes in their mouths
Lead exposure in children is linked to behavioral problems, cancer, autism, brain damage, neurological damage, learning difficulties, and developmental delays. Children under age 6 are the most at risk. In a simulated gastric digestion experiment, oral exposure could exceed daily lead intake thresholds if children chew or suck on contaminated clothing. Simulations of repeated exposure suggested daily ingestion limits could be surpassed, which could lead to clinically significant blood lead levels and serious outcomes.
The researchers said children are both the most vulnerable to lead’s effects and the most likely to put clothing in their mouths. They believe the lead is linked to the dyeing process and pointed to lead(II) acetate as a possible, cost-effective dye fixative used to achieve long-lasting, intense colors. This hypothesis aligns with higher concentrations in bright hues, particularly red and yellow.
Deavers called for consumer pressure on manufacturers, warning that without it the industry would likely continue using lead in fast fashion. Avello and Espinoza plan to test more t-shirts to examine how fabric lead levels relate to potential absorption by children and how washing may affect lead acetate.
A 2025 study
The research presented at the American Chemical Society meeting fits a broader pattern of findings about hazardous substances in children’s textiles and accessories. A 2025 study in the journal Toxics found that some infant clothing contained heavy metals that could be absorbed through prolonged skin contact.
In France, authorities have recalled several garments, including a baby onesie sold by Kiabi, because of excessive PFAS. The European Union has introduced new extended producer responsibility rules as of the beginning of 2025, making textile companies responsible for the entire lifecycle of their products. From 2026, large companies will be prohibited from destroying unsold clothing and footwear.
In Seoul, inspectors examined 29 children’s items sold on Shein, Temu, and AliExpress, including school supplies, clothing, and accessories, and found that 10 failed to meet domestic safety standards. Investigators detected phthalates, lead, and cadmium at levels far above permissible limits. A children’s jacket from Temu contained phthalates 622 times the allowable amount, and lead was found up to 549 times the standard limit in a keychain-shaped toy. The Seoul Metropolitan Government requested the suspension of sales for all 10 non-compliant products.