Halloween costumes could be exposing children to harmful toxins

It isn’t the sugar that will haunt kids trick-or-treating.The most terrifying part of Halloween costumes aren’t the spooky masks or faux gore — it’s the materials that should make you jump out of your skin.The polyester throw-away costumes, designed to only be worn one time, could be exposing kids to toxins that have been linked to cancer and could disrupt the reproductive, immune and metabolic systems, according to The Guardian.“When you go and purchase a fast fashion Halloween costume, you’re putting your kids probably in harm’s way of toxic exposures,” Miriam Diamond, a professor in the earth sciences department at the University of Toronto, told The Guardian.The Center for Environmental Health previously found evidence of lead, cadmium and Bisphenol A (BPA) in garb sold at Halloween Express and Spirit Halloween, with levels of the chemicals well above the amount that requires a warning label, according to the agency’s science lead Mihir Vohra.Apparel sold by fast fashion giants Shein and Temu have also been found to have high levels of carcinogens, like phthalates, lead and formaldehyde, and in 2022, Disney character costumes sold at major retailers like Amazon, TJ Maxx and Ross, among others, were found to contain lead paint and subsequently recalled.Such toxins pose a health risk for children, who are more sensitive to chemicals and experience different adverse affects from exposure than adults.Past studies have found that the chemicals can leach out of clothing due to moisture — like sweat — and be absorbed into other clothing in the home.“The fabrics and the chemicals degrade over time,” Diamond explained.“When they’re stuffed in the closet or in the drawer, they can share those toxic chemicals with the other clothing.

The chemicals are also shared during laundering.”According to The Guardian, the US only bans lead, cadmium and some kinds of phthalates in children’s clothing, but Scott Echols, the chief impact officer of...