More than 60 apparel companies could be sued under California Prop 65 chemical regulations after high levels of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) was found in women’s and children’s branded socks.
The first stages of litigation have already commenced under this stringent US law against textile companies and licensees that make socks for brands such as Adidas, Asics, Champion, Gap, Hanes, New Balance, Reebok, Target and Walmart.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is used as an intermediate processing aid during textile manufacture but is also known as an endocrine disruptor that’s restricted in many consumer end-products. According to the testing firm Intertek, BPA-based chemicals are used as “processing aids during fibre spinning to incorporate antistatic and hygroscopic properties.”
