Slovenian Consumers' Association finds harmful chemicals in sports t-shirts

The Slovenian Consumers' Association, as part of the European LIFE ToxFree project in collaboration with partners from Austria, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, has identified harmful chemicals in sports t-shirts. Testing conducted on 20 different shirts—ranging from global brands to discount and online marketplace products—revealed the presence of bisphenols in seven of the samples.

In the 13 shirts specifically sold in Slovenia, five contained at least one of five targeted bisphenols, which are known hormone disruptors. The most common substances found were bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol BPF, and bisphenol BPS. While the measured quantities were relatively small, they significantly exceeded the upper limits recommended by the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety.

The study noted that the presence of these chemicals is not limited to polyester; the highest release of microfibers occurred in blends of polyester, cotton, and viscose. Notably, the research found no direct correlation between a product's price, brand reputation, or use of recycled materials and the presence of bisphenols. The best-performing product was a low-cost shirt priced at 4.40 euros, while the worst-performing product belonged to a recognized brand.