Our team at the Toxicant-Induced Loss of Tolerance (TILT) Program at UT Health San Antonio wanted to share this important external article:
“The Best Non-Toxic Fashion Brands For Chemically Sensitive People” from EcoCult.
But toxic chemicals in fashion come with other dangers, too. They can be carcinogenic. They can be allergenic, setting off hives, rashes, and breathing problems that can eventually spiral into autoimmune disease. They can interfere with your fertility. So this applies to you if you’re recovering from or at risk of cancer, if you have sensitive skin, if you’re pregnant or trying to conceive, are allergic to dyes, or are managing an autoimmune disease.
The good news is that in the past decade, large companies like H&M, Levi’s, Nike, and Target have been hard at work ensuring their clothing is less likely to have toxic chemicals through restricted substance lists and testing. However, they still sell plenty of synthetic clothing, which is a no-no for people like me. Worse, many clothing manufacturers use toxic pollutants that can cause both acute (short-term and gnarly) and chronic (long-term and mysterious) health conditions.
This issue is important for people who experience chemical intolerance, said Dr. Claudia Miller, allergist/immunologist, professor emeritus, and leader of the Hoffman TILT Program at UT Health San Antonio.
How chemically sensitive are you?
Answer these three questions from Hoffman TILT’s Brief Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (BREESI):
- Do you feel sick when you are exposed to tobacco smoke, certain fragrances, nail polish/remover, engine exhaust, gasoline, air fresheners, pesticides, paint/thinner, fresh tar/asphalt, cleaning supplies, new carpet or furnishings? By sick, we mean: headache, difficulty thinking, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, upset stomach, etc.
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse or allergic reactions to any drugs or medications (such as antibiotics, anesthetics, pain relievers, X-ray contrast dye, vaccines or birth control pills), or to an implant, prosthesis, contraceptive chemical or device, or other medical/surgical/dental material or procedure?
- Are you unable to tolerate or do you have adverse reactions to any foods such as dairy products, wheat, corn, eggs, caffeine, alcoholic beverages, or food additives (e.g., MSG, food dye)?
If you answer YES to any of these three questions, take the Quick Environmental Exposure and Sensitivity Inventory (QEESI) and share the results with your doctor!