Are Your Baby’s Clothes Toxic? New Study Finds Harmful Chemicals in Infant Textiles

Infant clothing may expose babies to hundreds of different chemicals used in everything from plastics to paints—including some known to be toxic, a new scientific investigation shows.

The analysis of 43 infant garments, published this month [October 5] in Environmental Research, is the first to comprehensively screen for all detectable chemicals versus a limited number. In total, 303 different chemicals—from traces of pesticides to prescription drugs—were identified across the fabrics.

The findings build upon other research that has found potentially harmful chemicals and those that are known to be harmful, including toxic metals, in clothes designed for pregnant women, newborns, and toddlers. Although this study’s sample size was modest, its findings also raise questions about how well we understand chemical exposure from everyday clothing.