The Swedish Chemicals Agency has analysed 30 textile articles with respect to their contents of three antibacterial agents (biocides); silver, triclosan and trichlocarban.

The antibacterial treatment is usually labelled with the function to prevent bad smell in textiles.

Chemical analyses were performed on all samples before washing and after three and ten washes. Silver was found in sixteen of the thirty product samples before washing. A combination of triclosan and trichlocarban was found in two samples.

Substances leaking out with the washing water

Concentrations of biocides in fabrics fell after washing of those that had been treated with one of the three investigated substances. In the case of triclosan and trichlocarban about half or more of the original content was washed out after ten washes. In the case of silver the original concentration and washed-out content varied to a large extent.

Antibacterial treatment is not only used for synthetic material but also for cotton garments for young children, as well as synthetics, wool, and silk mixtures. There are of course many other manufacturers using biocidal treatment to their articles than those who were included in the study.