SAFETY OF LEATHER

GOODS

SAFETY OF LEATHER
GOODS
In case of the leather industry,
measures are mainly targeted at
preventing hazards through
chemicals and keeping exposure to
dust as low as possible.
Chemicals used for several process
steps, with tanning being a very
important one.

SAFETY OF LEATHER
GOODS
Substances like pesticides, solvents, dyes,
finishing agents and processing chemicals
are frequently toxic and persistent, both
to the environment and to human health.
The health problems and safety
regulations here are associated with
chemicals are primarily related to skin
contact or inhalation of hazardous
chemicals.

SAFETY OF LEATHER
GOODS

Exposure to certain chemicals could

lead for example to disability, illness
and even death in the long term.
The chemicals used in tanning and
other operations may be hazardous
individually or when mixed.
A number of fatal accidents have
occurred world wide due to the
unintended generation of toxic
hydrogen sulphide gas .

SAFETY OF LEATHER
GOODS
These accidents where not only fatal

for employees; the surrounding

community was heavily affected too.
It showed that occupational health &
safety is more than the well being of
employees.
Exposure, toxic effects, and the
percentage of chemicals used in the
leather products should therefore
adhere to the standards set by the
authorities.

Country Wise Legislation Laws restricting the

content of Azo dyes in Leather Products

Azo dyes are often used in the

coloring process of several textiles
and leather products.
Relatively recently it has been
recognized that some Azo coloring
agents may form amines (breakdown
products), which have carcinogenic
and mutagenic properties.

European Union Legislation Laws For Leather Products

The European Union restricts the

marketing and use of certain
dangerous substances and
preparations (Azo colorants) in
leather products.
The legislation is relevant for all
products made leather or in which
leather is used and which come into
direct and prolonged contact with the
skin and mouth.

European Union Legislation

Laws For Leather Products
These include producers of textiles
and garments, leather goods, shoes,
toys, furniture, decorative articles,
jewellery and accessories.

EU legislation: Azo dyes in leather articles

Azo dyes are often used in the

colouring process of textiles and
leather.
Many azo dyes exist that can be used
to dye textile and leather.
Part of these dyes has the capacity
to release certain aryl amines which
pose cancer risks.

EU legislation: Azo dyes in

leather articles
For this reason, the European Union
laid down legislation to prevent
exposure to these hazardous
arylamines.
This indirectly implies that those azo
dyes that can split into these
restricted amines can no longer be
used to dye textile and leather
products that come into contact with
the skin.

Outline of the requirements of Directive 2002/61/EC

The European Commission has

published legislation restricting the
use of azo dyes which can release
one or more specified amines in
textile and leather articles.
This legislation is laid down in
Directive 2002/61/EC, amending
Directive 76/769/EEC on the
marketing and use of dangerous
substances and preparations.

Outline of the requirements of

Directive 2002/61/EC
The aim of the Directive is to protect
the consumers health in the EU.
The Directive is applicable to all
leather products that may come into
direct and prolonged contact with the
human skin or oral cavity.
The examples of products listed are:

Outline of the requirements of

Directive 2002/61/EC
Clothing, bedding, towels, hairpieces,
wigs, hats, nappies and other
sanitary items, sleeping bags,
Footwear, gloves, wristwatch straps,
handbags, purses/wallets, briefcases,
chair covers, purses worn around the
neck,
Leather toys or leather garments.

Outline of the requirements of

Directive 2002/61/EC
The Directive establishes that the
products covered by the legislation
may not contain the 22 amines listed
in Table 1 in a concentration above
the threshold limit of 30 ppm.
This limit, 30 ppm, equals the
detection limit.
All parts of a product should comply
with this limit, and that this limit
applies to each amine separately.

Outline of the requirements of

Directive 2002/61/EC
E.g. a textile shoelace of leather
footwear needs to comply with
the limit of 30 ppm, as well as the
leather parts of footwear.
It is not allowed to take the average
concentration of a certain amine in
the complete product.

The UK legislation: Azo dyes in leather articles

The restricted use of azo dyes in

textile and leather articles as
established in Directive 2002/61/EC
and amended by 2004/21/EC was
implemented in the United Kingdom
by the Controls on Certain Azo Dyes
and "Blue Colorant" (Amendment)
Regulations.

The UK legislation: Azo dyes in leather articles

The UK legislation is a direct

transposition of the EU legislation.
This means that the UK legislation
sets the same requirements as the
EU Directive.
The table below provides a summary
of the legislation.

The UK legislation: Azo dyes in

leather articles
Substance (CAS number)*:
Azo dyes that may split into harmful amines
(92-67-1, 92-87-5, 95-69-2, 91-59-8, 97-563, 99-55-8, 106-47-8, 615-05-4, 101-77-9,
91-94-1, 119-90-4, 119-93-7, 838-88-0, 12071-8, 101-14-4, 101-80-4, 139-65-1, 95-534, 95-80-7, 137-17-7, 90-04-4 and 60-09-3)
Products:
Leather articles which may come into direct
and prolonged contact with the skin or
mouth

The UK legislation: Azo dyes in

leather articles
Requirement:
Limit: 30 ppm
Status:
Existing implementation of EU
legislation
Source:
The Controls on Certain Azo Dyes and
"Blue Colourant" (Amendment)
Regulations

The UK legislation: Azo dyes in

leather articles
* A CAS number is a unique
identifying number assigned to
chemicals by the Chemical Abstracts
Service.

Legislation Laws restricting the content of Chromium in

Leather Products

Hexavalent chromium, abbreviated as

Cr(VI) is a substance hazardous to health.
Cr (VI) can for example cause allergenic
reactions in people.
The substance itself is not used in the
leather tanning process, but can be
formed from the use of Chrome III.
However, if the tanning process is
optimized, the Cr (VI) level can be as low
as the detection limit.

Germany Legislation- Chromium in Leather Products

The General product safety

requirements in Germany are laid
down in the LMBG (Lebensmittel und
Bedarfsgegenstnde Gesetz).
Governments use such general
requirements to protect consumers
for products for which there is not
any specific legislation.

Germany Legislation- Chromium

in Leather Products
In Germany, it is forbidden to
manufacture or distribute
commodities in such a way, that "if
used properly or as anticipated, they
may constitute a danger to health on
account of their material
composition, particular through
toxicological substances or
impurities."

Germany Legislation- Chromium

in Leather Products
Considering the hazardous nature of
Hexavalent Chromium, the German
enforcement authorities strongly
advise all those marketing leather
products in Germany to ensure that
the Cr(VI) content of the leather
should not exceed 3 ppm.

Germany Legislation- Chromium

in Leather Products
Substance:
Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI))
CAS Number:
7440-47-3
Products:
Leather products

Germany Legislation- Chromium

in Leather Products
Requirement:
It is strongly advised not to market leather
products in which the
Status:
Chromium content exceeds 3 ppm.
Interpretation of general product safety
requirement
Source:
Lebensmittel und Bedarfsgegenstnde Gesetz

JAPAN

Restrictions on Harmful Substances:

Handling baby and childrens wear
demands observing the Law for the
Control of Household Products
Containing Harmful Substances.
These restrictions are under the
jurisdiction of the Office of
Environmental Chemicals Safety,
Environmental Health Bureau, Ministry
of Health and Welfare, and the
restrictions also apply to goods other

JAPAN
Details of the restrictions on baby
and childrens wear grouped
according to type of harmful
substances are shown in the
following table.

JAPAN
Harmful
Substanc
e

Products Covered

Standard

Toxicity

DTTB

Underwear, night
clothes, gloves,
socks, intermediate
clothes, outerwears

30 ppm or Percutaneous &

less
peroral acute
toxicity, hepatic
disorder &
genital disorder.

Dieldrin

Diaper covers,
underwears,
nightclothes, gloves,
socks, intermediate
clothes, outerwears
& caps

30 ppm or Hepatic disorder

less
& central nerve
disorder.

JAPAN
Harmful
Substan
ce

Products
Covered

Formaldeh
yde

(a) Diapers, diaper

covers, bibs,
underwears,
nightclothes, gloves,
socks, inetrmediate
wears, outerwears &
caps for babies 24
months old or less.
(b) Underwear,
nightclothes, gloves
& socks.

Standa
rd

Toxicity

75 ppm or Mucosa
less
stimulative &
skin allergies

RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES LIST (RSL )

This Restricted Substances List (RSL)

was created by a special working group
of the American Apparel & Footwear
Associations (AAFA) Environmental
Task Force.
The RSL is intended to provide apparel
and footwear companies with
information related to regulations and
laws that restrict or ban certain
chemicals and substances in finished
home textile, apparel, and footwear
products around the world.

RESTRICTED SUBSTANCES LIST (RSL )

The following table lists the various

chemicals, and application areas and
also the raw materials, component
parts, chemicals, sundries and other
things of value in which they can be
expected.

NICKEL

Nickel is a metal element that may

be present as either a pure metal or
as nickel compounds, e.g., salts.
Nickel metal is mainly used for
plating of alloys, improving the
corrosion resistance in alloys,
improving the hardness of alloys and
is a key element in the production of
stainless steel.

NICKEL
Nickel compounds can be used as
pigments and as fixing agents.
Both nickel metal and nickel
compounds can occur as an impurity
in pigments and alloys.
Apps: Metal parts, natural fibers,
man made fibers.

ANTIMONY
Antimony is a metal that may be
present as either a pure metal, or as
a compound, e.g., salts.
Antimony can be used as a catalyst
in polymerisation of polyester.
Antimony compounds can be used as
flame retardants, fixing agents and
can be found in pigments.
Apps: leather, manmade fiber,
natural fibers, metal parts.

ARSENIC
It can be present as a pure metal, as
non-metal or as arsenic compound.
Arsenic and its compounds can be
used in some preservatives,
pesticides and defoliants for cotton.
Apps: leather, manmade fiber,
natural fibers, metal parts.

CHROMIUM
Chromium is a metal element that is
present as a pure metal or as
chromium compounds.
Chromium compounds can be used
as dyeing additives, dye-fixing
agents, for after treatments in order
to improve colour fastness.
Dyes for wool, silk and polyamide
textiles could contain chromium
complexes, especially for dark

CHROMIUM
Chromium salts are used for tanning
of leather.
Apps: leather, manmade fiber,
natural fibers, metal parts.

COBALT
Cobalt is a metal that is present as a
pure metal or as cobalt compounds.
Cobalt compounds can be used as
pigments.
Cobalt metal can be used in metal
alloys.
Apps: leather, manmade fiber,
natural fibers, metal parts.

LEAD
Lead is a metal element that is
present as a pure metal or as lead
compounds.
Lead compounds can be used as
stabilizers for plastics, in pigments
for textiles or paints, e.g., surface
paints on zippers and buttons, as
well as in prints on plastic products.
Apps: leather, manmade fiber,
natural fibers, metal parts.

MERCURY
Mercury is a metal element that would
not be normally found in its metallic
form.
Mercury will form compounds with
other chemicals, e.g., salts.
Mercury compounds can be present in
pesticides and can be found as a
contaminant in caustic soda.
Mercury compounds can be used in
paints, e.g., surface paints on zippers
and button

PHTHALATES
Used as softener (plasticizer) in
plastics, print pastes, adhesives and
other products.
Up to 50% of soft PVC plastic can be
a phthalate softener, but other
plastics or prints can contain
phthalates as well.
Plastic buttons could contain
phthalates.
Apps: prints, plastics and rubber

ORGANOTIN
COMPOUNDS
Mainly used as stabilizers in
plastic/rubber but also as antibacterial agents in textiles.
Can be found in anti corrosion
coatings in drums containing for
example dye stuff.
Used as catalysts in plastic
production.
Apps: Prints, plastics and rubber,
leather.

PHENOLS

Phenols (PCP/TeCP) are sometimes

used to prevent mold when growing
cotton and when storing/transporting
fabrics.
Phenols can be used as a
preservative in print pastes.
Apps: natural fibers, man made
fibers, prints, plastics, and rubber,
leather and paper

ISOCYANATES
Isocyanates are used in the
production of polyurethane plastics
and foams.
App: fabrics

PCBs
Poly Chlorinated Biphenyl.
These are large molecules containing
many chlorine atoms.
They are mainly used as pesticides,
but also as softeners, carriers and
flame retardants.

CHLORINATED BLEACHING
AGENTS
Used for bleaching textiles, paper etc

SOLVENTS
Organic solvents are mixtures of
volatile, commonly petroleum-derived,
chemicals.
Many contain large amounts of
chlorinated derivatives.
Solvents are used whenever something
is needed to be dissolved, for example,
in the dyeing/printing process, when
removing spots on ready made
garments and for dissolving the glue
when making shoes.

Perflourinated Alkylated
Substances (PFAS)
Included in a group of chemicals
called fluorocarbons.
They are surfactants known to be
stable, not sensitive to heat and to
repel both water and oily
compounds.
Used in the production of
fluoropolymers which are used as
impregnating agent on textiles, e.g.,
water repellents.

Azo Dyes and Pigments

Aromatic amines can be a part of the
molecular structure in AZO dyes used
both for natural and synthetic
materials.
For dyeing textiles, prints and leather
products.
Both pigments and dye stuff may
contain banned amines.
Natural fibers, man made fibers,
leather, prints, plastics and rubber.

DISPERSE DYES

Disperse dyes are molecules that can

penetrate the fiber system of
polyester.
It is not chemically bonded to the
fiber but trapped inside the fiber by
physical forces.
Some disperse dyes are also banned
azo dyes as they can cleave to form
the restricted amines.

DISPERSE DYES
Mainly for dyeing polyester fibers but
also polyamide, acetate, viscose and
other man- made fibers.
Man made fibers, prints, plastics and
rubber.

OTHER DYES
For dyeing textiles and other
materials.

FLAME RETARDANTS
To decrease the flammability of the
product, e.g., lowering the energy
(heat) of the flame.

FORMALDEHYDE

Formaldehyde is volatile and

colourless and is present in small
amounts in the atmosphere, tobacco
smoke, glue and air pollution.
Due to its volatility, formaldehyde is
"contagious".
If you place a garment with
formaldehyde on top of a garment
that does not contain formaldehyde,
the other garment may become
"infected".

FORMALDEHYDE
Fabric samples for testing need to be
packed separately in plastic bags.
Formaldehyde or formaldehyde
releasing compounds can, for
example, be used for pre-shrinkage,
easy-care and pre-crinkle treatment,
and for fixation or preservation of
dyes and prints.
Natural fibers, man-made fibers,
prints, plastics and rubber, leather
and paper.

PVC
PVC is a plastic that can be soft or
hard, transparent or coloured.
PVC may contain phthalates,
organotin compounds, lead and
cadmium.
In the textile industry PVC could be
used to make soft plastic accessories
like badges, sequins and zip pullers
or as coating on textiles for rainwear
and prints.

PVC
Various kinds of prints might be
made out of PVC.
Prints, plastics and rubber.