Toxins In Shoes
January 28, 2021, by Lisa Powers
Did you know that your shoes can be a source of toxic exposure? There’s no labelling requirement for footwear like there is for clothing so it’s hard the know what the basic materials are let alone the many chemicals used in their production.
Chemicals in Leather Shoes
There are hundreds of chemicals used in leather production, most of which occurs in countries with lax regulations. The majority of leather production, roughly 80-85%, uses chromium in the tanning process. Chromium is a heavy metal that can accumulate in the body and cause a range of health effects including skin rashes, nose irritation, respiratory illness and for workers with regular exposure during production it can be a carcinogen. Chromium is also harmful to the environment, particularly water. (source)
Some companies claim to use chromium-free tanning, or vegetable tanning, but even these leathers can be processed with a range of chemicals. (source)
A 2010 study by the Swedish Society for Nature studied 21 pairs of name brand shoes that were produced in several different countries and at various price points. They found high levels of trivalent chromium in all brands and high levels of mercury is all but one. They also found several other chemicals at varying degrees in different samples including formaldehyde, fungicides, and cancer-causing azo dyes. (source)
Shoes insoles, the part of the shoe that your foot rests on are often made of leather so even if upper part of the shoe is made of canvas or other safer materials you can still be exposed.
While the Swedish study is not current, the EPA has not updated its leather tanning guidelines since 1996. The EU’s regulations for leather tanning specifically, and clothing and shoe production in general, have been similarly insufficient. New, more stringent EU restrictions for clothing and shoe production were implemented on November 1, 2020.
Chemicals in Plastic Shoes
Phthalates, a class of chemicals that have been linked to health effects including asthma, neurodevelopmental issue and reproductive issues, has been found in plastic shoes. A 2010 study by the Danish EPA found that plastic clogs and sandals made for both children and adults contained high levels of phthalates and that the shoes “represent a significant contribution to the total phthalate exposure for consumers”. (source)
The good news is that in the U.S., the Consumer Product Improvement Safety Act (CPSIA) regulates phthalates, as well as lead and cadmium, in children’s footwear. A 2018 study by the Department of Ecology for the state of Washington, which has more stringent guidelines than the CPSIA, found that none of the shoes tested exceeded the allowed limit. (source)
Adult footwear is not as well-regulated as children’s footwear by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) but it is subject to California Proposition 65 which limits the use of phthalates among other harmful chemicals. Products containing phthalates or other restricted chemicals in levels that exceed their safety standards must be labeled with a warning such as the one below from a name brand shoe manufacturer. The limitation of this system is that the lack of a warning label doesn’t mean the product is completely free of harmful chemical but rather that they are not present in levels higher than allowed.
CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 65
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals, including Bisphenol A (BpA), which is known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm, and Diphthalate (DEHP) and Nickel compounds which are known to the State of California to cause cancer. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov
How Are You Exposed?
Some of the chemicals present in footwear can be absorbed through the skin, partcilaury if you are sweating or have open cuts or blisters on your feet. Others are mainly inhaled as they off-gas. To best limit your exposure, consider not just how you wear your shoes but also how you store them.
How to Limit Your Exposure to Chemicals from Shoes
Buy safer shoes.
You can find safe, non-toxic adult shoe brands and children’s shoe brands on Debra’s List. Be careful when buying eco-friendly or vegan shoes. While they are good for the environment, some may still contain chemicals that are not so good for humans.
Wear socks, preferably organic cotton or wool.
Properly store your shoes.
If you have shoes that are made with leather or plastic, store them in your garage to limit off-gassing in your home. Alternatively, keep them in a storage bin.
Buy fewer shoes.
Fewer shoes = fewer harmful chemicals.
If you like this article, please share it!
©NonToxU LLC, 2020. All rights reserved.
