Why we must ban harmful chemicals in women’s underwear and other textiles

A report from European consumer groups led by Arnika reveals a startling reality — many women’s underwear and other textiles are contaminated with hazardous chemicals known as Bisphenols. In tests across Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia, around 33 % of clothing samples contained detectable bisphenols, and ≈ 10 % exceeded scientific safety limits. In some cases, concentrations were more than 350 times higher than permitted by safety standards. Alarmingly, underwear marketed to young girls was among the worst offenders — up to 50 % of those items contained bisphenols.

Bisphenols (including the widely used Bisphenol A, or BPA — as well as its substitutes) are known endocrine disruptors. They can interfere with hormone function, impacting fertility, development, and metabolism, and increasing the risk of hormone-related conditions. Exposure through clothing is especially concerning because textiles come into direct, prolonged contact with skin — increasing the chance for absorption. Even though in recent years some bisphenol uses (e.g. in food packaging) have been restricted by the European Commission, clothing remains largely unregulated — leaving consumers vulnerable.

The report calls for an EU-wide ban on all hazardous bisphenols (and their harmful substitutes) in textiles and other everyday consumer products by 2029. They also recommend:

• Mandatory lab-testing of all textile products before market placement.
• Clear chemical-content labeling or a “Digital Product Passport” to inform consumers.
• Stricter ecolabel / certification standards — ensuring “eco” or “organic” clothing truly means safer for health

What you can do today

• Support policies pushing for a full ban of bisphenols in everyday products.
• Ask clothing brands and retailers transparently whether their textiles have been tested for hazardous chemicals — especially for intimate garments.
• Prefer natural-fiber garments (e.g. high-cotton underwear), which the study found to be far less likely to contain bisphenols than synthetic fibres.