Ellen Phiddian

I want you to think about the clothes you're wearing.

On your warm woolly jumper or light cotton t-shirt, there's a tag that might tell you what it's made of, where it was made, maybe how to wash it.

But what it won't tell you is some of the chemicals that were used to make it that might still be clinging to the fibres.

Today, I'm going to pull on that thread and take a look at some of the chemical hazards that might be hiding in our wardrobes.

I'm Jonathan Webb, and this is Lab Notes from ABC Radio National.

I'm joined by science reporter Ellen Fidian, who has been rummaging in the dirty laundry of the fashion industry.

Hello, Ellen.

Now, conventional wisdom would say to wash clothes before wearing them for the first time.

Sometimes actual labels on actual clothes will say wash before first use.

I tend to look at that label and think, yeah, they're being really cautious.

It's probably fine.

Should I be paying more attention?

At the very least.

Okay.

I'm taking note.

What are some of the possible health effects of these contaminants and compounds, Ellen?

So I should definitely be washing my children's clothing before they wear it, by the sounds.

And I gather one of the researchers you spoke to first came up with the idea because someone in their own family got sick and they were worried about an exposure.

Is that right?

How did she find out that her daughter had elevated lead levels?