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Flight attendant uniforms Across industries, the most talked about factors to consider when
selecting an employee uniform are comfort, durability, fabric care
instructions, and style. Within aviation, flammability is also important. Until
2011, the primary uniform-related health issue reported to AFA-CWA was the need
for airlines to offer a non-wool uniform option to the small number of flight
attendants who have a wool allergy. Starting in early 2011, though, hundreds of
AFA-CWA members at Alaska Airlines have reported symptoms caused by exposure to
chemical contaminants in employee uniform fabrics manufactured by TwinHill (a
subsidiary of Men’s Wearhouse). From 2016-2020, AFA received a similar pattern
of reports from our members at PSA, Piedmont, and Envoy Air. And in 2018, we
started to receive uniform reaction reports from Delta Airlines flight
attendants. These reports have led us to research both the literature regarding
chemical contaminants in fabrics sold in the US, and the chemical additives in
those particular uniform fabrics. 2018 - Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health documented “a
relationship between health complaints and the introduction of new uniforms”
among Flight Attendants at Alaska Airlines from 2011-14. More information
on the Harvard study here. Sept.
2016 – March 2020 – AFA received reports of uniform reactions from
601 of our approximately 3,600 members (17%) at Envoy Air, PSA Airlines, and
Piedmont Airlines wearing TwinHill uniforms,
dominated by irritant/allergic responses (skin, respiratory, and eyes) in
addition to headaches, hair loss, and other non-irritant symptoms. American
Airlines flight attendants wore the same garments and reported the same types
of symptoms. Visit the main afacwa.org
website for more information on the uniform reactions reported by our members
at PSA, Piedmont, and Envoy, and our sisters and brothers at American Airlines. Jan. 2011 – Feb. 2014 - AFA received reports of uniform
reactions from more than 800 of its approximately 3,000 members at Alaska
Airlines. Their symptoms developed since wearing the TwinHill/Men’s
Wearhouse employee uniforms. Many of these symptoms (e.g,. rash/hives, burning
eyes, swelling around the eyes/mouth, difficulty breathing) were exacerbated at
work and improved/resolved when away from work. Some symptoms (e.g., hair loss,
abnormal thyroid function) were constant, unless there was an extended absence
from work. Of the affected flight attendants, some reported positive skin patch
reactions to potassium dichromate and cobalt. The heavy metals identified in
some fabric samples include antimony, aluminum, arsenic, bismuth, chromium
(trivalent and hexavalent), cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, and titanium.
Other identified compounds include diisodecylmaleate,
2-ethyl hexyl fumarate, phthalates, tributyl phosphate, and various allergenic
dyes (see July 2013 bulletin, below). These chemicals were confirmed in fabric samples but it is not a comprehensive list. There are other examples of chemical-contaminated
uniform clothing generating reaction reports amongst flight attendants, ambulance employees, and TSA officers. This webpage is intended to provide
basic information to our flight attendant members who are experiencing
uniform-related symptoms and are seeking information to bring to their doctors.
Some of the information is airline-specific, but the lessons learned from our
research into fabric contaminants and reported symptoms apply system-wide.
Thus, beyond trying to serve the needs of individual members with relevant
information, we provide recommendations for union representatives and airline
management to facilitate the selection of safe fabrics and establish a means
for crewmembers to report any problems, especially during the early months of a
new uniform “roll out.” The goal is to prevent, or at least quickly identify
and remedy, uniform-related ill health. Comfort, durability, fabric care, and
style all matter, but health and safety must be number one. July 3,
2023 – Are your clothes making you sick? The opaque world of chemicals in
fashion Nov. 2012
-- Bigger picture on toxins in clothes: Greenpeace International
commissioned an investigation that delves even further into the hazardous
chemicals used in the production of high street fashion. You can read the Greenpeace report “Toxic threads: The big fashion stitch up” and a related op ed article. Regarding arsenic, lead, and chromium in
fabrics: Significantly,
heavy metals fabric data commissioned by Alaska Airlines and completed in Aug.
2012 reported that 13 of 35 fabric samples appeared to have excess levels of
arsenic and lead, 6 of 35 samples appeared to have excess levels of chromium
(not hexavalent), and one had excess hexavalent chromium, all as compared to
the Oeko-Tex 100 fabric standard. AFA-CWA has not
been provided with the names of the arsenic, lead, and chromium-containing
compounds in these fabrics, but these test data confirm their presence. 1.
Arsenic-containing
compounds that may be used in fabrics include: arsenic trioxide, arsenic trisulfide,
arsenic pentoxide, potassium arsenate, and sodium arsenate. 2.
Lead-containing
compounds that may be used in fabrics include: lead acetate and lead pigments. 3.
Chromium-containing
compounds that may be used in fabrics include: chromic acetate, chromic fluoride,
chromic chloride, chromic oxide, chromic trioxide, chromic sulfate, chromo
sulfuric acid. Links to
abstracts/articles of interest: Metal content in textile and
nano-textile products (2022) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35055766/ Symptoms related to new flight attendant
uniforms (2018) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29295715/ Substitution of PFAS chemistry in
outdoor apparel and the impact on repellency performance (2017) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28460297/ Detection of azo dyes and aromatic
amines in women undergarments (2016) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27149414/
Toxicity appraisal of untreated dyeing
industry wastewater based on chemical characterization and short
term bioassays (2016) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26920697/
Patch testing to a textile dye mix by the
international contact dermatitis research group (2015) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26172486/
Patch testing with a textile dye mix in two
concentrations - a multicentre study by the Swedish
contact dermatitis research group (2015) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25166030/
Case report: poisoning with lead, mercury,
arsenic caused hair loss, rash, gastrointestinal, neuropathy, weakness (2013) -
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23582936/
Case report: metal sensitivity caused systemic
dermatitis and hair loss (2013) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23590797/
Contact allergy from disperse dyes in
textiles: a review (2013) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23289879/ Patch testing with contact allergens:
the Mayo Clinic experience (2012) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23169208/
Immunoregulation of skin sensitization
and regulatory T cells (2012) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22804346/ Assessment of the sensitizing potential
of textile disperse dyes and some of their metabolites by the loose-fit
coculture-based sensitization assay (2012) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22349058/
Allergic contact dermatitis probably
caused by mercaptobenzothiazole in thermal
undergarments (2012) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22486572/ Globalisation and allergy (2011) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21546337/
Allergic contact dermatitis from formaldehyde
textile resins (2010) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20233544/ Halogenated flame retardants: Do the
fire safety benefits justify the risks? (2010) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21268442/
Formaldehyde in textiles: GAO 10-875
(2010; not peer-reviewed) - https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-10-875.pdf Association between indoor exposure to
semi‐volatile
organic compounds and building‐related symptoms among the occupants of residential dwellings
(2010) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20028434/
Allergic contact dermatitis to dimethyl
fumarate in footwear (2010) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20136899/ An epidemic of furniture-related
dermatitis: searching for a cause (2010) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19796182/
Contact allergy: Alternatives for the
2007 North American contact dermatitis group (NACDG) standard screening tray
(2008) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18215657/
Contact allergy to textile dyes in
southern Sweden (2006) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16787452/ Diagnosis and treatment of dermatitis
due to formaldehyde resins in clothing (2004) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15842060/
Atypical and unusual clinical
manifestations of contact dermatitis to clothing (textile contact dermatitis):
case presentation and review of the literature (2003) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12952748/ Disperse dyes in fabrics of patients patch-test-positive to disperse dyes (2003) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14738722/
Occupational contact dermatitis to
textile dyes in airline personnel (2001) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11753894/
Acute hypoallergenicity
(1998) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9840282/ Chronic generalized eczema caused by
multiple dye sensitization (1996) – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8955485/
Contact dermatitis in the textile industry: a review of 72 patients
(1996) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8955486/
Textile dye dermatitis (1995) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7896955/
Allergic and irritative textile dermatitis
(1994) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8115841/
Textile dye dermatitis (1992) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1493688/
Contact dermatitis from fabrics (1986) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2943672/
Clothing dermatitis (1986) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3743044/
Toxic effects of metals from the environment on
hair growth and structure (1979) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/227944/
A case for diagnosis (alopecia areata;
arsenical dermatitis?) (1945) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21065672/
Chemicals in fabrics as potential skin
irritants (1941) - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19992434/ |
Print
Download:
yuyhI21.pdf,
HETA20120075.pdf,
AFAtoCPSC.pdf,
AttachCPSC.pdf,
CPSCresp.pdf,
FAAresp.pdf,
SHARP2001.pdf,
chemfab41.pdf,
cobalt.pdf,
cu.pdf,
ddm.pdf,
ehf.pdf,
k2cr.pdf,
mn.pdf,
orange.pdf,
sb.pdf,
tbp.pdf,
chemfabppt.pdf,
as_k.pdf,
as_na.pdf,
as_o3.pdf,
as_o5.pdf,
as_s3.pdf,
cr_sulf.pdf,
cro_ac.pdf,
cro_cl.pdf,
cro_fl.pdf,
cro_sulfa.pdf,
pb_ac.pdf,
pb_pig.pdf,
cro_ox.pdf,
cr_ox.pdf,
cr_tri.pdf,
chemdata2.pdf,
UniBulletin.pdf,
AFAresponse.pdf
