Does Rayon Cause Cancer? The Shocking Truth

Rayon is often praised for its softness, versatility, and affordable price. However, if you’re concerned about carcinogens in your clothes, you might want to think twice. In this guide, we’ll uncover the hidden chemicals behind rayon production and the potential risks of wearing it, including the big question: does rayon cause cancer?

Does Rayon Cause Cancer? Our Verdict

Yes, rayon is likely carcinogenic to consumers. Toxic chemicals used in its production, such as formaldehyde resins and carbon disulfide, pose serious health risks. These substances harm both garment workers and consumers, causing neurological issues, reproductive problems, skin conditions, and other long-term health complications. The dangers are far-reaching.

Health Hazards Lurking in Rayon Production

To transform purified cellulose into this semi-synthetic fiber, rayon undergoes chemically-intensive processes, often referred to as the ‘viscose process.’ All the toxic solvents and chemicals that it necessitates makes rayon one of the most toxic clothing materials.

When it comes to its carcinogenic properties, the fabric incorporates a toxic compound, carbon disulfide, which triggers coronary heart disease, birth defects, skin conditions, and cancer – not only among garment workers but also those living in proximity to rayon factories.

However, the complete picture reveals a more alarming reality. Through various other solvents and chemicals, rayon contributes to the global health crisis. It poses occupational hazards in factories overseas while leading to the bioaccumulation of toxins in the wearer’s body, jeopardizing every aspect of sustainability – from environmental impact to the well-being of both producers and consumers.

Carbon disulfide (CS2) in Rayon Deteriorates Garment Workers’ Health

Developed in the late 18th century, carbon disulfide is a highly poisonous chemical, causing a range of health effects in rayon factory workers, including functional and organ damage, as well as nervous, circulatory, alimentary, and endocrine system issues.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has deemed carbon disulfide as a “possible teratogen in humans”, meaning it has the potential to cause abnormalities and functional defects in the human embryo/fetus if the pregnant woman is exposed.

Chronic exposure to the chemical can trigger central and peripheral nervous system disturbances, gastrointestinal issues, sexual dysfunction, and permanent kidney damage among rayon workers.

For consumers, sporting rayon clothes comes with risks, too – the residual carbon disulfide trapped in clothing can slowly jeopardize the wearer’s health over time. But it is the rayon employees directly handling the chemical day in, day out who really pay the price, as they suffer from reproductive health problems, poisoning, miscarriages, nerve damage, and even visual disturbances.

Carbon Disulfide’s Silent Neurological Damage

For years, we suspected that even low exposure to carbon disulfide could cause gradual brain damage in viscose factory workers. However, we lacked the medical imaging technology to actually see what was happening inside the workers’ brains over time.

Recently, a sophisticated study followed workers at 11 Japanese viscose plants, performing MRI brain scans on them 6 years apart. The scans revealed increasing signs of tiny, symptomless areas of cell death and tissue scarring – called silent brain infarctions. This progressive damage likely started during their years working amidst carbon disulfide fumes.

The Lingering Impact of Rayon Factories

Today, nearly all 11 factories have shut down. Yet, the former employees continue living with the legacy of their hazardous work environment. The insidious effects on their brains still accumulate, despite no longer inhaling the toxic gas on a daily basis. What was once invisible has now been revealed, but too late to save these workers from a lifetime of deteriorating neurological health.

Formaldehyde Resins Are Present in Rayon

The American Contact Dermatitis Society reveals a concerning fact: rayon and viscose fabrics often undergo treatment with formaldehyde-laden resins. These include urea-formaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, and phenol-formaldehyde. Why do manufacturers do this? To make the fabrics wrinkle-free — a desirable textile property that comes at the expense of the wearer’s health.

How Manufacturers Disguise Formaldehyde

To mask the presence of this toxic chemical, manufacturers use alternative names, making it harder for consumers to recognize. Some common aliases include:

• Formalin, methanal, methyl aldehyde, morbicid acid, oxymethylene (for formaldehyde)
• Phenoplast or phenolic plastic (for phenol-formaldehyde)

Even worse than this, manufacturers add formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, so that they never wash out. ensuring that the chemical never truly washes out. That means, no matter how many times you launder your rayon clothing, the formaldehyde lingers in the fibers — exposing you to its harmful effects with every wear.

Risks Associated with Formaldehyde Resins

Formaldehyde, a key component in the resins used to treat rayon fabrics, is more than just an irritant — it’s a serious health hazard. Even at low levels of exposure, it can cause eye irritation, respiratory issues, and skin sensitivity.

However, what consumers must be aware of is that that formaldehyde is carcinogenic. Several authoritative sources deem the chemical as a human carcinogen, including the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the National Toxicology Program (NTP), as it has the potential to cause leukemia and nasopharyngeal cancer.

This makes rayon carcinogenic by default, as the wearer inhales and ingests rayon microfibers while wearing the fabric on a daily basis.

N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) in Rayon Production

N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), a solvent widely used in the bleaching, scouring, and dyeing of rayon, poses serious health risks — especially for garment workers exposed to it in industrial settings.

Reproductive and Developmental Risks:

Animal studies have linked NMP to reproductive toxicity, raising concerns about its impact on human fertility and fetal development. In factories, prolonged exposure may lead to:

• Reduced fertility
• Developmental abnormalities in offspring

Neurological and Organ Damage

Beyond reproductive risks, research also links NMP exposure to neurological harm, including:

• Headaches
• Confusion
• Dizziness

Animal studies further suggest that NMP can cause liver and kidney damage — health effects that worsen with repeated exposure.

Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO): A Versatile Yet Toxic Solvent

Dimethylsulfoxide, or DMSO, is a jack-of-all-trades in the chemical world, used in everything from industrial manufacturing to experimental medicine. During rayon’s peak popularity, manufacturers used it to create the fabric’s signature softness and sheen.

Health Risks of Industrial-Grade DMSO

Despite its versatility, an unpleasant reality lurks behind DMSO’s myriad applications. Nausea, diarrhea, and widespread destruction of the developing nervous system – these harmful reactions have all been linked to industrial-grade DMSO exposure.

Unknown Dangers of DMSO for Rayon Workers

The impacts on rayon employees in particular remain murky. Research shows that at high concentrations, the solvent can increase inflammation and even kill cells. However, how much do rayon workers handle regularly? how does it imperil their long-term health?

Unfortunately, we lack definitive answers to these questions, including the pressing concern, “does rayon cause cancer?”, due to insufficient safety data. What we understand, however, is that DMSO has been proven to exhibit cytotoxic effects on cells. What’s more, it has the potential to cause widespread apoptosis, affecting the developing central nervous system adversely.

Until researchers answer these pressing questions, DMSO remains a toxic solvent tied to rayon production.

The Hidden Cost of Rayon’s Features: Solvents & Additives

Rayon’s softness, stain resistance, water repellency, and antimicrobial properties don’t come from nature — they come from chemicals.

Manufacturers add formaldehyde to prevent wrinkles, biocides to stop mold during shipping, and azo dyes (often containing heavy metals) to maintain color. These synthetic additives don’t just disappear. They stay trapped in the fabric, making up a significant portion of its weight.

Ultimately, all the synthetic dyes and toxic solvents linger within the rayon fibers, comprising a significant portion of the fabric’s overall weight. When worn close to the skin, these compounds can leach out over time and be absorbed into the wearer’s body.

How is Rayon Made?

The steps for making viscose rayon have never really been top-secret industrial knowledge. Just like following a recipe, the basic ingredients have stayed largely the same over time.

With a multi-step process, rayon production uses both natural and chemical inputs. First, manufacturers dissolve wood pulp in caustic soda to separate the cellulose. Then, they mix in carbon disulfide, which rearranges the cellulose molecules into the desired structure.

Next, they churn and activate this mixture before adding more caustics to create a semi-liquid solution – the eponymous viscose. This viscose fluid then goes through cutter holes covered in sulfuric acid, streaming through them and hitting the acid bath, which lets the filaments solidify and transform themselves into rayon fibers.

The Environmental Impact of Rayon

The dangers of rayon production extend beyond just human health: the environment also suffers under its toxic touch. Its manufacturing process releases toxic wastewater, known as effluent, which contains heavy metals, chemicals, and harmful byproducts. When dumped into rivers and lakes, this poisonous discharge contaminates aquatic ecosystems.

Studies have shown rayon effluent to be lethal for organisms like fish, crabs, and snails. The toxins accumulate downstream, decimating animal populations and interrupting entire ecosystems. Beyond controlled tests, real-world factory discharges have created sterile, hazardous wastelands in surrounding rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

Strict controls and responsible disposal of effluent are essential to restrict environmental harm. If not properly contained, the deadly discharge will relentlessly seep into waterways and wildlife habitats, destroying safe water sources and ecological balance.

Dioxin: A Toxic By-Product of Rayon Production

One of the harmful byproducts of rayon production is dioxin. To make rayon fibers, manufacturers bleach wood pulp using chlorine-based agents that generate dioxin emissions. Dioxin is a potent toxin that can cause:

• Immune system damage
• Cancer
• Reproductive issues

To tackle the prevalence of dioxin, regulatory bodies provide bleaching guidelines that limit its levels. For instance, the Consumer Product Safety Commission regulates dioxin in disposable diapers, paper towels, and tissues made of rayon.

Some companies have reverted to oxygen-based bleaches to avoid releasing dioxin altogether. Yet, the compound still persists in conventional rayon production.

Is There Such Thing as Organic Rayon?

Rayon manufacturers deceptively market their products as a sustainable, plant-based fabric. But make no mistake – the production process behind rayon is far from organic.

To go from wood pulp to wearable rayon, the fibers are bathed in hazardous chemicals like carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide. These toxic solvents give rayon its signature silky texture, but also pollute the earth and harm the health of garment workers along the way.

For a fabric to be certified organic, the raw materials and production methods must be free of synthetic chemicals from start to finish. So, while rayon comes from tree cellulose, its chemically-intensive manufacturing disqualifies it as an organic fabric.

The bottom line? Don’t let the plant origin fool you, as it’s the processing that matters when determining whether a fabric is organic. Rayon’s toxic bath keeps it from making the cut.

Different Types of Rayon to Avoid

While often referred to as a single textile, rayon encompasses a diverse range of fabric types, each derived from unique manufacturing processes. However, all of these fabric identities are a by-product of chemicals, additives, and synthetic finishes, therefore, we recommend avoiding them.

Types of rayon available on the market include:

• Viscose Rayon: Made from dissolved wood pulp
• Cupro Rayon: Spun from cotton linter cellulose
• Bamboo Rayon: Made from bamboo cellulose
• Rayon Crepe: Produced using special knitting techniques.

Frequently Asked Questions