Toxic Chemical Found In Indian Textiles A Rivers: Toxics Link Report
A recent study by environmental advocacy group Toxics Link has raised serious concerns over the widespread presence of nonylphenol (NP), a toxic and endocrine-disrupting chemical, in Indian textiles and water bodies near textile hubs. The report titled “Toxic Threads: Assessing Nonylphenol Contamination in Indian Textiles & the Environment” presents comprehensive data from textile samples, detergents, and environmental matrices across India.
The study found NP in 15 out of 40 textile products tested (37%), with 13 of them exceeding the European Union’s permissible limit of 100 mg/kg. The highest concentration was recorded in women’s hosiery innerwear at 957 mg/kg. Alarmingly, 60% of children’s garments tested also showed NP presence, highlighting the potential risk of prolonged dermal exposure among vulnerable populations.
Textile products with the highest NP levels were primarily manufactured in India, reflecting a regulatory gap. While countries like the EU, Japan, the US, China, and South Korea have imposed restrictions on NP use, India currently lacks binding regulations for NP in textiles and environmental matrices.
The environmental assessment paints an equally troubling picture. Surface water samples from five major rivers, including the Cooum and Adyar Rivers in Chennai, Buddha Nullah in Ludhiana, and Bandi and Sabarmati Rivers in Rajasthan and Gujarat, showed significant NP concentrations. The Cooum River registered the highest NP level at 70 µg/L, while sediment samples from Buddha Nullah contained up to 460 µg/kg of NP and 1190 µg/kg of NP mixed isomers.
Interestingly, detergent samples tested in this study did not show detectable NP levels, suggesting a possible phase-out in domestic products. However, the report warns that industrial-grade detergents and surfactants used in textile processing may still be a major, unregulated source of NP discharge.
“The findings clearly demonstrate the link between industrial textile processes and environmental pollution, particularly in downstream river samples,” said Mr. Piyush Mohapatra, Senior Programme Coordinator at Toxics Link. “There is an urgent need for India to align with global standards by enforcing stricter controls and promoting safer alternatives.”
Toxics Link recommends urgent regulatory intervention, awareness-building among manufacturers and consumers, and investment in safer, NP-free textile processing technologies. The organization also calls for improved monitoring of industrial effluents and further studies to assess the impact of NP on public health and aquatic ecosystems.
