The toxic metal in children’s colourful clothes posing hidden health risk

Fabric from brightly coloured shirts, like the yellow (middle) and red (right) samples shown here, tended to release more lead from textiles than muted colours - (Cristina Avello and Priscila Espinoza)

Children’s clothes in the US contain lead beyond safety limits, with even short periods of chewing on the fabric exposing children to “harmful levels” of the toxic metal, scientists warn.

Lead in the form of lead (II) acetate is widely used as a low-cost way to help dyes adhere to fabric and produce bright, long-lasting colours.