Robert P. Casey Jr.
Casey Provision to Investigate Use of Formaldehyde in Textiles Included in Consumer Safety Conference Report
July 29, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today applauded the inclusion of his provision to investigate the dangerous use of formaldehyde in textiles in the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act conference report. Under Senator Casey’s provision, a study would be performed to further investigate the danger to consumers posed by the use of formaldehyde in textiles.
“The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has identified formaldehyde as a potential hazard but has failed to identify how serious the risk is to consumers,” said Senator Casey. “American consumers can’t test these products on their own and American manufacturers should not have to compete with corner cutting foreign competitors. I am pleased that the Conference Committee has taken the first step in insuring that this poison does not harm consumers. ”
Earlier this year, Senator Casey successfully included an amendment requiring a study of the use of formaldehyde in clothing and textiles during the Senate consideration of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.
The conference report for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, which was announced today, directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on the use of formaldehyde in the manufacturing of textile and apparel articles.
In 1997, the CPSC issued a report on the dangers of formaldehyde. The report stated that among other things, formaldehyde exposure “can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes, nose and throat, nausea, coughing, chest tightness, wheezing, skin rashes, and allergic reactions. It also has been observed to cause cancer in scientific studies using laboratory animals and may cause cancer in humans.” Despite issuing the report in 1997 warning of the dangers of formaldehyde, the CPSC has taken no action to protect consumers from exposure.
According to the Associated Press, last August the New Zealand government launched an investigation into Chinese garments imported to New Zealand after children's clothes from China were found to contain dangerous levels of formaldehyde. In 2007, according to the American Apparel and Footwear association, more than 25% of clothes sold in the United States were imported from China.
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