It's bad that the bedding “smells new”. They smell like chemicals. Sometimes there are too many of them in products and they are harmful to health

The jacket from the chain store ended up in a test tube. All elements and materials inspected, cut into sections and flooded with reagents. Also quite unusual. – We have artificial sweat here – says Magdalena Świta-Bomska from the Department of Laboratories of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection in Łódź.

Sweating of the jacket is one of the stages of testing in the laboratory of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection. – Are there any chemical substances that may pose a threat in the products available on the market – says Magdalena Świta-Bomska.

This is the result of an inspection by the Trade Inspection carried out in stores from which inspectors brought clothes and bedding, handbags and shoes made of artificial leather, and exercise accessories to the laboratory.

– Seven percent of the samples were wrong, these were products that contained too much of substances that are allowed, but in limited concentrations – says Jagoda Kruszewska from the press office of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection.

What we exercise in, what we wear and what we cover ourselves with to sleep has chemicals in it.

– One kilogram of clothes uses from one and a half to almost seven kilograms of chemicals. From the field where cotton is grown and pesticides are used, through the processes of creating yarn, through the production of fabric or knitwear, and then dyeing, finishing or applying prints – says Aleksandra Włodarczyk, an expert in sustainable fashion and author of the website swiadomykonsumentmody.pl.

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Formaldehyde in bedding makes it soft and does not crease, phthalates in dumbbells, balls and skipping ropes make them flexible and unbreakable. But when there are too many of them, they are harmful to health.

– If there is too much formaldehyde, an allergic reaction may occur. Phthalates themselves have a strong endocrine effect and influence human hormones – informs Dr. Eng. Jakub Duszczyk, chemist and toxicologist.

In one of the tested beddings, the standard for formaldehyde was eight times exceeded, and in dumbbells there was 320 percent too much phthalates.

– Entrepreneurs are obliged to withdraw dangerous products from sale – says Jagoda Kruszewska. In turn, customers can shop less frequently and more consciously.

– EU law is the most restrictive law when it comes to chemicals in the world. Therefore, when we shop, it is worth buying products from companies that have their headquarters in the European Union, says Joanna Sawicka-Gajin from the “Kupuj responsibly” Foundation.

When shopping, you should trust your senses. – It is often said that it smells new. It's bad that it smells new, because it is chemistry – points out Dr. Eng. Jakub Duszczyk.

Everything new should be washed or steamed. This will help get rid of excess chemicals. It is better that it remains the domain of laboratories.