Halloween costumes can expose children to harmful toxins

It is not the sugar that will follow the children.

The scariest part of Halloween costumes isn’t the creepy masks or fake gore—it’s the materials that should make you jump out of your skin.

Disposable polyester suits, designed to be worn only once, can expose children to toxins that have been linked to cancer and can disrupt the reproductive, immune and metabolic systems, according to The Guardian.

“When you go and buy a fast-fashion Halloween costume, you’re probably putting your kids at risk of toxic exposures,” Miriam Diamond, a professor in the University of Toronto’s department of earth sciences, told The Guardian.

The Center for Environmental Health previously found evidence of lead, cadmium and Bisphenol A (BPA) in clothing sold at Halloween Express and Spirit Halloween, with levels of the chemicals well above the amount required for a warning label, according to the agency’s chief science officer. Mihir. Mother-in-law.

Clothing sold by fast fashion giants Shein and Temu have also been found to have high levels of carcinogens, such as phthalates, lead and formaldehyde, and in 2022, Disney character costumes sold at major retailers such as Amazon , TJ Maxx and Ross, among others, were found to contain lead paint and subsequently recalled.

Such toxins pose a health risk to children, who are more sensitive to chemicals and experience different adverse effects from exposure than adults.

Past studies have found that chemicals can leach from clothes due to moisture – such as sweat – and be absorbed into other clothing in the home.

“Fabrics and chemicals degrade over time,” Diamond explained. “When they go into a closet or drawer, they can share those toxic chemicals with other clothing. Chemicals are also released during cleaning.”

According to The Guardian, the US only bans lead, cadmium and some types of phthalates in children’s clothing, but Scott Echols, chief impact officer of ZHDC, an organization committed to eliminating toxins from clothing, told the media that “it would not come bet on” companies that meet these requirements.

According to the Halloween Express website, the seasonal retailer regularly tests products to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

Spirit Halloween told The Guardian that it also tests all toys, accessories and costumes for children in compliance with product safety laws as well as California’s Proposition 65, a law that requires manufacturers to label products that contain carcinogenic materials.

“If there’s that warning there, that’s a sign that either there’s something in there, or they didn’t care enough to evaluate if there’s something there,” Echols said.

Many products for sale at Halloween Express include a stern warning that part or all of the costume may expose it to lead.

The Post has reached out to Halloween Express for comment.

The allure of mass-produced suits is their affordability, so Echols recommends going to thrift stores to look for better-quality products at lower prices that pose less risk due to multiple washes.

He also recommended buying face paint from drugstores rather than fast-fashion retailers, as well as avoiding plastic products from unknown brands that “are highly likely to have [phthalates] in them if they are PVC.”

But if you’ve already bought your plastic face mask or cheap accessories for the office costume contest or Halloween trick-or-treating, Vohra has a tip.

“If you’re using a plastic Halloween costume, make sure you wash your hands before digging into your Halloween treat,” he said.