Sponsor
European Commission, 5th Framework Programme (FP5), CRAFT Project (QLK4-CT-2000-70158)
Realisation
Hydrotox GmbH, D-Freiburg i.Br. (Scientific Coordinator)
Simmendinger Textilausrüstung GmbH, D-Burladingen (Administrative Coordinator)
Novotex A/S (DK), Farbetex (EL), Ovelacq BVBA (B), Baumann Textildruckerei (A), Societé d’Impression de Vieux-Thann, SA (F), Alkena GmbH (CH), TZP a.s., Hlinsko (CZ), Gössl (A), FoBIG GmbH (D), Inotex Ltd (CZ), Institut Francais Textile-Habillement (F)
Project Duration
March 2001 – May 2003
Summary
Most of the textile-finishing companies in Europe are small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) which are under enormous pressure to reduce the dangerous substances in their production processes. Mutagenic, carcinogenic and allergenic textile-finishing substances are of special concern.
Previous studies performed by Hydrotox have already shown that dyes in waste waters from textile finishing companies and dyed textiles are mutagenic in the Ames test in several cases. In the context of the MUTATEX project dyes, textiles and waste waters from 8 textile finishing companies from 8 European countries were investigated and evaluated. Most textile dyes are existing substances and almost no data are available concerning mutagenicity and the other data which are now required for new substances. In the laboratories of Hydrotox dyes, textiles and waste waters were investigated in the Ames test and in the Mouse Lymphoma Assay. The dyes were selected according to their consumption in the textile finishing companies and after consultation of several data-bases performed by the partner FOBIG GmbH. These data-bases were supplemented by requests at the dye producing companies. 14 out of 281 dye stuffs tested, which were utilised in the partner's companies, could be evaluated as mutagenic. Further 67 substances could not be evaluated finally during the duration of the project. In the project dyes which were identified as mutagenic were substituted by uncritical substances at the partner's facilities. This process will be continued at all participating partner companies also after the completion of the project.
Contact Person
Dipl.-Chem. Ismene Jäger (
Jaeger(at)hydrotox.de, Tel: +49-(0)761-45512-20)