Antimony release from polyester textiles by artificial sweat solutions: A call for a standardized procedure

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Polyester fibers contain antimony from polyethylene terephthalate production and flame retardant use.
• Antimony contamination is present in both new and recycled polyester polymers.
• Textile contact with skin necessitates understanding potential antimony release.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify antimony release from polyester textiles into artificial sweat.
• To investigate factors influencing antimony mobilization from polyester fabrics.
• To assess the suitability of standard methods for antimony release testing.

Main Methods:

• Polyester textile samples were exposed to standard artificial sweat solutions (ISO 105-E04, EN 1811).
• Antimony concentrations in extracts were measured.
• Experimental parameters like time, temperature, pH, and solution composition were varied.

Main Results:

• 0.05-2% of total antimony was mobilized into artificial sweat under standard conditions.
• Reduced time, lower temperature, and higher pH decreased antimony release.
• The ISO 105-E04 method is recommended due to its pH being closer to human sweat.

Conclusions:

• Antimony can be mobilized from polyester textiles into artificial sweat.
• Washing polyester textiles before use is recommended to minimize exposure.
• Standardized testing methods can reliably assess antimony mobilization from textiles.