Did you know that you could pick up toxins from just about anywhere? Some of these toxins are so prevalent that you can find them on the clothes you wear.

It’s not that surprising when you think about the steps involved in making clothes, and the processes they go through before ending up on the market. Additionally, the more affordable and trendier clothing is made from fabrics that contain higher levels of these toxic chemicals.  It's unfortunate because not only are these synthetic fabrics harmful to your health, and they also cause harm to the environment.

Whenever you go out to buy new clothes, make sure you double check the material used in making them. Keep an eye out for the synthetic fabrics mentioned below as they are not only hazardous, they also leave traces of chemicals on your body.

• Rayon, Acetate, Nylon, Triacetate – these materials are made from cellulose wood pulp. They also use ammonia, caustic soda, sulphuric acid, and acetone for treatment while processing.
• Acrylic fibres – acrylic fibres are made from polyacrylonitrile. This chemical is said to have the same effect as cyanide if inhaled. According to a report, exposure to this synthetic polymer resin can cause you to suffer from jaundice, anaemia, leucocytosis, nausea, and kidney problems.
• Polyester – polyester is derived from petroleum, a non-renewable mineral source. Synthetic polymers can emit greenhouse gases that are 300 times more than that of carbon dioxide.

Clothes that make the following claims listed below usually have higher levels of toxins in them.

• Wrinkle-free
• No-iron
• Stain-resistant
• Moth-repellent
• Fire-retardant
• Pre-shrunk

If you’re looking for a way to protect yourself from these toxins, and save the environment in the process, then you need to go green. Going green can be applied to several aspects of our lives, and not just what we eat. Why not opt for eco-friendly fabrics the next time you go clothes shopping. Here are a few organic clothing materials you can purchase.

• Organic cotton – several cotton plantations make use of pesticides. Try to check if the materials used are organic. If it is, then it means that no synthetic chemicals were used in growing them.
• Bamboo – this highly renewable grass has natural antibacterial properties. When used to make fabrics, you get breathable and biodegradable pieces of clothing.
• Soy cashmere/silk – this material is produced using the soy protein leftovers of soybeans. Consumers and especially clothing manufacturers should always check to make sure genetically modified soy products wasn’t used for the fabric.
• Wool – wool is one fabric that requires no chemical input in the fabric-processing step. It is fire-resistant and renewable. Organic wool is quickly becoming popular in the clothing market
• Tencel – this is another fabric that is fully biodegradable. Tencel is made from natural cellulose wood pulp. It requires minimal toxic chemicals during processing.
• Recycled polyester – it has a lower carbon footprint (approximately 75 percent) compared to that of virgin polyester. Although it still contains slight traces of toxins, manufacturers are coming up with ways to remove them entirely from the fabric.