Narrative:

This is directly related to the issuance of new uniforms for the employees at [my company]. Since the issuance of the new uniform; many colleagues have had reactions to the new uniform; whether actually wearing it; handling it; or being in close proximity to it. The chemicals in the new uniforms are pentachlorophenol; tetrachlorophenols; trichlorophenols; free and partially releasable formaldehyde; benzyl benzoate (cas 120-51-4); C.I. Disperse orange 30 (cas 5261-31-4); 2-(phenylmethylene)-octanol (cas 101-86-0); benzaldehyde (cas 100-52-7); 9;10-anthracenedione (cas 17418-58-5); and 9;10-dimethylanthracene (cas 781-43-1). The environmental protection agency banned the textile manufacture (in clothing) of most of these chemicals in the united states. The new uniforms were manufactured in other countries; including china; bangladesh; sri lanka; vietnam and indonesia. None of these countries have the regulations or protocols that are in line with the epa mandates. The vendor of the new uniform is also the vendor for another airline. The flight attendants at that airline suffered ill effects from their uniforms. After some time; the uniforms were ultimately recalled. Because I flew a reduced schedule in both september and october due to two week vacations in those months (yet had sinus issues and contact dermatitis as early as august from handling the uniforms); it was not until november when I was flying a full schedule that my health was more seriously impacted. Many of my colleagues; including myself; have filed injury on duty reports because of the negative impact on our health. I am still out sick. The medications that are my 'go to' for clearing sinus infections; have been ineffective. I have been regularly seeing my primary care physician since august as it relates to my sinus issue. I have seen my dermatologist for the contact dermatitis. I recently took skin tests from the allergist for environmental controls; which produced a negative result. I will be taking a patch test in january for formaldehyde exposure; and other chemicals on that test screen.a report was filed with osha about this. I only recently learned that [the company] stated that the matter was resolved; so osha closed the case. I wrote in to osha to dispute that claim; as did many of my colleagues. The concern regarding exposure and contact with the new uniform is that it will have a cumulative; multiple toxic and negative impact on not only my colleagues; but also the traveling public. Formaldehyde specifically can be airborne; as an example. It is a known respiratory irritant; also causing dizziness; headaches; blurry vision; among a few of the ailments involved with its' exposure.

Related reports:

Google
 

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Flight Attendant reported experiencing adverse health effects that they believed were caused by chemicals in new uniforms issued by her company.

Narrative: This is directly related to the issuance of new uniforms for the employees at [my company]. Since the issuance of the new uniform; many colleagues have had reactions to the new uniform; whether actually wearing it; handling it; or being in close proximity to it. The chemicals in the new uniforms are Pentachlorophenol; Tetrachlorophenols; Trichlorophenols; free and partially releasable formaldehyde; Benzyl benzoate (CAS 120-51-4); C.I. Disperse Orange 30 (CAS 5261-31-4); 2-(phenylmethylene)-octanol (CAS 101-86-0); Benzaldehyde (CAS 100-52-7); 9;10-Anthracenedione (CAS 17418-58-5); and 9;10-Dimethylanthracene (CAS 781-43-1). The Environmental Protection Agency banned the textile manufacture (in clothing) of most of these chemicals in the United States. The new uniforms were manufactured in other countries; including China; Bangladesh; Sri Lanka; VietNam and Indonesia. None of these countries have the regulations or protocols that are in line with the EPA mandates. The vendor of the new uniform is also the vendor for another airline. The flight attendants at that airline suffered ill effects from their uniforms. After some time; the uniforms were ultimately recalled. Because I flew a reduced schedule in both September and October due to two week vacations in those months (yet had sinus issues and contact dermatitis as early as August from handling the uniforms); it was not until November when I was flying a full schedule that my health was more seriously impacted. Many of my colleagues; including myself; have filed Injury on Duty reports because of the negative impact on our health. I am still out sick. The medications that are my 'go to' for clearing sinus infections; have been ineffective. I have been regularly seeing my primary care physician since August as it relates to my sinus issue. I have seen my dermatologist for the contact dermatitis. I recently took skin tests from the allergist for environmental controls; which produced a negative result. I will be taking a patch test in January for formaldehyde exposure; and other chemicals on that test screen.A report was filed with OSHA about this. I only recently learned that [the company] stated that the matter was resolved; so OSHA closed the case. I wrote in to OSHA to dispute that claim; as did many of my colleagues. The concern regarding exposure and contact with the new uniform is that it will have a cumulative; multiple toxic and negative impact on not only my colleagues; but also the traveling public. Formaldehyde specifically can be airborne; as an example. It is a known respiratory irritant; also causing dizziness; headaches; blurry vision; among a few of the ailments involved with its' exposure.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.