During the various processing stages such as sizing, weaving, knitting, pre-treatment, dyeing, printing and finishing, textiles can come into contact with many heavy metals. Copper, nickel and chromium compounds increase the light/wash fastness of the dyes in cotton and wool. They are currently used most frequently, e.g. in the coloring part of reactive dyes. In the conventional sector, the heavy metals are used directly in wool dyeing in particular - in much higher concentrations. Zinc salts are used for etching to correct incorrect dyeing. The problem: Some heavy metals are highly toxic, non-degradable and accumulate in the blood, for example, and replace the iron in hemoglobin. They are often the cause of allergic diseases of the respiratory tract and skin. Although limit values apply in Germany and dyes containing heavy metals are used less frequently and in lower concentrations or are replaced by new dyeing methods in the organic sector, there is often no heavy metal-free alternative for blue, green and turquoise tones. The use of some substances, such as cadmium and mercury, is prohibited in Germany.
At LANIUS, heavy metal residues in the final product are regularly checked and monitored. We adhere to the GOTS and Oeko-Tex 100 to guarantee a product that is environmentally friendly and harmless to human toxicity.
