Air pollution within the textile industry affects people, machinery and products.
There is an increased incidence of health problems, especially byssinosis, tuberculosis
and asthma,
Air pollution can also arise from use of textiles after manufacture. For indoor
furnishings, many pollutants are related to building materials,8 but furniture, carpets,
draperies and wood or fabric furnishings probably give rise to more consumer complaints.
This may be because of the presence of formaldehyde or volatile organic
substances from wood and office furniture. Guidelines on chemical levels are available
(though they do not cover non-industrial buildings), but research to investigate
biological pollutants (potentially of more interest in the textile context) is much less
extensive.
Secondary emissions from floorcoverings include harmful substances (especially
formaldehyde) given off, for example from back coatings.Tests which can be carried
out in order to provide a ‘green’ certification for carpets using suitable chemicals,
processes, dyes and colorants are slowly becoming available.
Textiles can, though, play a valuable rôle in contributing to the reduction of air
pollution. Many types of filter fabrics are produced, with an ability to remove particles
with a range of sizes. The fine pores in a fabric are ideal for preventing the
transmission of impurites while allowing air flow to take place. Filter fabrics, indeed,
form a major class of technical fabrics and are used throughout the world in all kinds
of situations.