Publication 15-03-039 reports metals in children’s clothing, footwear, and accessories. Antimony was the most often detected metal in the components sent for laboratory analysis.
Key numbers
Antimony was detected in 72 percent of 50 component samples, from below 1 to 2,500 ppm. Median 5.9 ppm across sample types and median 126 ppm in fabric (PDF p.3 and p.7). The report states that 50 to 300 ppm was typical of polyester clothing. The 2,500 ppm result was one pair of flame-resistant children’s pajamas, with an X-ray fluorescence bromine reading of 4.6 percent.
Methods (brief)
Product screen with X-ray fluorescence and laboratory metals analysis. Not a probability sample of sleepwear.
Evidence fitness
Supports category-level concentrations in the screened components. Does not support a sleepwear-class distribution or a skin dose.
Limitations
One pajama component is not a study of polyester sleepwear as a class. Brand names are not repeated.
Related evidence
Update history
No substantive edit history is available in this build. The full commit record is available in git.