"Don't buy bright fluorescent colors or clothes that are too pure white. For children's clothing, buy light-colored ones!"

A survey by the Beijing Consumers' Association earlier this year found that 38% of children's clothing did not meet quality standards.

One of the largest children's clothing production bases in China is located in Zhejiang Province. This is because dyeing requires large amounts of water, so dyeing factories must be located near rivers.

China also has regulations on chemicals that can be used in dyeing, but they are not being followed.

One substance of strong concern is azo dyes, which produce aromatic amines. Hundreds of azo dyes have been banned in industrialized countries because aromatic amines are toxic substances.

The reason for this is that azo dyes dissolved from the product by sweat, saliva, or body fluids can be transformed by bacteria on the skin surface or by enzymes in the human body into compounds that are harmful to the human body, such as allergic or carcinogenic.

Phthalates, also known as plasticizers (which have the effect of accelerating staining), are exogenous chemicals that can cause disruption and harmful effects on the organism by affecting the endocrine system.

According to local newspaper reports, the amount of dyes and additives used in the Chinese textile industry accounts for 42% of the chemicals used in the global textile industry.

The China Environment Foundation stated, "Wastewater treatment facilities are aging, but maintenance is not keeping pace. Many wastewater is discharged into rivers untreated."

He noted that water pollution in China has already reached a point where it can no longer be remedied.

Dyeing factories seem to be relocating from downstream areas to rural areas further upstream. The reason behind this is that companies are looking for clean water and cheap labor costs for dyeing.

Refining and bleaching, in which strong chemicals are used in a kettle at high temperature and pressure to react with the cotton in a short period of time. Mordants using large amounts of heavy metals such as nickel, chromium, and copper to strengthen the dyeing process. Chemicals with high formalin concentration to prevent color fading.

The list is endless, but there was a good reason behind the fast, cheap, and mass-produced garments.

Harmful chemicals continue to be discharged from factories into rivers and then into the ocean.

( to be continued )