Have your feet ever turned blue, or black, or red from a pair of shoes or sandals?
Even Traditional Leather Tanning Was Toxic
If you have ever driven or walked near a leather tannery you know something foul is going on in there.
鞣制兽皮是一种古老的做法,可以追溯到公元前7000年。它一直是,而且仍然是,一个有害的过程,总是被降级到城市的郊区,现在它降级到发展中国家。在进行鞣制之前,动物皮肤上的肉、脂肪和毛发都需要去除。在使用化学物质和金属之前,古代的制革工人会浸泡,然后捶打和冲刷皮肤,去除肉和脂肪。接下来,鞣剂会通过将皮肤浸泡在尿液中,或使用碱性石灰混合物,或简单地让皮肤腐烂几个月,然后将其浸泡在盐溶液中来去除毛发纤维。After the hair fibers were loosened, the tanners scraped the hair off with a knife.
Once the hair was removed, the tanners would pound dung into the skin. Dog and pigeon dung was favored. Sometimes the dung was mixed with water in a large vat, and the prepared skins were kneaded for hours in the dung water until they became pliant. In cities, children were employed to gather dung and pee pots were ubiquitous street side. What an occupation!
在清洗和揉捏之后,皮革被鞣制,使其软化,保存,并使其防水。皮肤在框架上拉伸,并在单宁浓度不断增加的大桶中浸泡数周。单宁是一种在植物王国中随处可见的植物化合物。在树木中,单宁是保护树皮不受火、虫子和细菌侵害的物质。鞣质发现于特定的树皮,如橡树或栗子树皮,是制革工人的选择。That was the old days.
Modern Leather Tanning Requires Harsh Chemicals
Nowadays, 80-85 percent of tanned leathers are processed using chromium. And due to the tanning businesses’ disliked odors and waste, leather processing is often located in developing countries where environmental restrictions are lax. Currently, leather shoes are soaked in a chemical cocktail prior to appearing on your feet, and can be hazardous during the whole life cycle of the shoe.
A study done by theSwedish Society for Nature Conservationtested twenty-one pairs of brand-name shoes manufactured in various countries. They were analyzed for a number of metals and organic compounds. The metals analyzed in the study were arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, and zinc. High levels of trivalent chromium were found in all the shoes. All but one shoe, contained high levels of mercury. All of the other metals were found in varying degrees in all of the shoes.
www.naturskyddsforeningen.se
Also foundwere organic compounds either used for tanning, dying or preserving the leather.
Chlorinated phenols (biocide), ortho-phenylphenol (fungicide, anti-bacterial agent, preservative), 2,4,6-tribromphenol (fungicide, bactericide, flame retardant), chlorinated paraffins (de-fatting, re-fatting), dimethylfumarate (preservative), formaldehyde (preservative) were just some of the compounds tested and found in the shoes. Two of the tested shoes contained azodyes (banned in many countries) and capable of forming carcinogenic amines.
The Toxins In Leather Tanning Hurt Us And The Environment
Many of these metals, dyes and organic compounds can easily cross the skin barrier if one perspires in one’s shoes. Blisters and cuts on the foot may enhance the uptake.
Not only should we worry about our feet, but when we landfill our leather products these toxins could leach into our drinking water. Incineration is no better, as many of these compounds when mixed with other organics, become even deadlier. Trivalent chromium may oxidize into carcinogenic hexavalent chromium. Combustion of halogenated compounds, such as chlorinated and brominated phenols, may result in formation of dioxins and furans. Metals are not destroyed upon incineration, but volatilized, and subsequently condense to form sub-micron metallic particles which easily become airborne. Even early on, mining of chromite ore for trivalent chromium produces waste containing the toxic hexavalent chromium. And of course, the copious, caustic wastewater resulting from the tanning process itself, has been a serious issue for many, many years.
Chromium tanned leather has a considerable impact on the environment. Yet, there are numerous quality alternatives to chromium tanned leather. But, due to the fact that our shoes are manufactured in developing countries with less stringent environmental restrictions, there is less impetus for change.
What You Can Do
- If you go sock free on a hot summer day, remember your perspiration is mixing with chemical dyes, suspected carcinogens and heavy metals such as mercury, lead and arsenic and that mix could just possibly be re-absorbed through your skin and into your feet!
- 在填埋前尽可能长时间使用鞋子。
- Buy eco-labelled shoes.
- Buy eco-vegan shoes.
- Ask for chromium-free leather.
- Write your Environmental Protection Agency to demand legislation that prohibits hazardous chemicals in consumer products.
- Most Of All: Buy Sustainable Shoes
More Information About Leather Tanning
‘Bad Shoes Stink’ Swedish Society for Nature Conservationwww.naturskyddsforeningen.se
Leather Shoes spread environmental toxicantswww.naturskyddsforeningen.se
Wikipedia-Tanning:en.wikipedia.org
anniesays
this information is so interesting, my eyes and ears are now open… lets protect ourselves, other earthlings and our enviroment…small changes.. BIG STEPS….peace and love to you all x
Samsays
Interesting information about the toxic metals in leather footwear. I’ve have been wearing leather footwear without socks for the past three years, mainly in the summer months, until today I’ll have to rethink what I wear. I have on pair shoes that the insole is dyed black and therefore, makes the soles of my feet black. I don’t really wear them too much. I’ve been wearing leather clogs also. I should wear socks since my perspiration level can get the leather quite damp when the temp are hot.
BILLsays
Hi; I think a few words in this sentence are missing. You might want to fix it. Thanks for the article, very interesting…here’s the sentence: ‘…If you do not wish your perspiration, which has been mixed with chemical dyes,…’
Jackiesays
我的一个供应商告诉我,所有中国制造的鞋子都含有有毒的化学物质和塑料。
Are there any shoes made in China that are considered ‘safe’ (such as BORN, Clark’s, etc.)?
Heike Schraedersays
Interesting story. I recently came across a new German babies’ and children’s shoe brand (Pololo) which uses only vegetable tanned leather for their shoes. They are also certified ‘Allergy friendly’ and follow sustainability principles. This might be an alternative!
Sandysays
I have been trying to find a eco-friendly, natural, green edge dressing for shoes.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Best regards,
Sandy
Pattisays
Hi. Off topic, but was wondering if you had any information about whether the antibacterial footbeds in the Merrell Hollyleaf sandals are safe to wear. I don’t want to be subjected to more toxic chemicals. Cute sandals, but do not like the idea of any antibacterial substance being absorbed by my body.
Thanks.
XX_x420_t04Dx_XXsays
我在头上穿鞋,还有烟鞋,这会导致我患上艾滋病之类的疾病吗?
Ilkka Pollarisays
Cost effective, high quality Chromium free tanning is now possible also for shoe applications. Eastman’s Tanfor T chemistry is based on aluminum and organic acids. Test series of shoes in Tanfor T leather have been successfully manufactured at TopMan and Janita of Finland, and production is expected to start during 2015 also in some major European and Chinese tanneries. ContactFAS@taminco.comfor more info.
Silviasays
Thank you for your very interesting article. I am sure your readers would have appreciated knowing which brands were tested. Would the manufacturers mind? I am sure they would but then who cares? Maybe being exposed will help some of these mfgs. realize that they may very well be responsible for many of the illnesses in this Country. I would pay an extra dollar or two for healthier shoes.
So who are they?
Max Williamssays
Hello and Good Day
I am Max, Marketing Manager with a reputable online marketing company based in India.
We can fairly quickly promote your website to the top of the search rankings with no long term contracts!
我们可以将您的网站放在谷歌,雅虎和MSN上的自然列表的顶部。我们的搜索引擎优化团队提供了比任何人更多的顶级排名,我们可以证明这一点。我们不使用谷歌和其他搜索引擎不赞成的“链接农场”或“黑帽”方法,并可以用来删除或禁止您的网站。这些技术是专有的,涉及一些有价值的、保密的商业机密。我们的价格还不到其他公司的一半。
We would be happy to send you a proposal using the top search phrases for your area of expertise. Please contact me at your convenience so we can start saving you some money.
In order for us to respond to your request for information, please include your company’s website address (mandatory) and or phone number.
所以,如果你想让我给你发邮件或安排一个电话,请告诉我。我们很乐意为您服务。
我期待你的邮件。
Thanks and Regards
Max williams
Davidsays
我穿了几周的新鞋。然后我遇到了一个大问题,首先是脚部的皮疹。然后很快每个脚趾上都起了水泡——在脚趾顶部、脚趾底部、脚趾之间的两侧、脚趾连接处的脚尖(以及其他地方)。我以为自己得了一种新型的非常迅速的癣,直到一位朋友告诉我之前的一个病例,污染物严重影响了一个人的呼吸,在打开鞋盒时,工作空间变得无法使用,直到拆除。事实证明,进口鞋的问题可能更严重,因为它们需要额外的治疗以避免引入外国疾病(澳大利亚)。治疗足癣花费巨大,好几天不能走路。对she零售商不感兴趣。
Michaelsays
Any recomendations for shoes other than leather, that contain no heavy metals?
Jacqueline Jenkinssays
How can Chromium in leather shoes effect my feet?
Asays
有趣的文章。虽然我是植物鞣皮的强烈倡导者,但我从来没有对任何类型的鞣皮过敏反应。然而,我在穿合成皮鞋后,脚上出现了痛苦的小水泡。如果我穿合成纤维,运动员的脚也是个问题。