Hobbies And Interests
Water Pollution
Textile factories release major amounts of water pollution -- particularly in developing countries with lax environmental regulations. A 2012 report from a China-based non-governmental organization found severe pollution linked to top fashion brands -- including Puma and Zara -- that make their clothes in that Asian country. Water pollutants typically released by the textile industry include acids, caustic soda, detergents and dyes. These chemicals are poisonous to the organisms living in these bodies of water as well as to humans.
Air Pollution
After water pollution, harmful emissions are the next highest form of pollution generated by the textile industry. Boilers at textile facilities typically produce nitrogen and sulfur oxides that eventually become acid rain. High-temperature drying processes at these facilities release greenhouse gases in the form of hydrocarbons. Many of the solvents and chemicals used in the course of making textiles also release toxic fumes and volatile organic compounds -- the latter being a major component of ground-level ozone or smog.
Noise Pollution
Along with the printing and publishing industries, the textile industry is among one of the noisiest industries. The noise level can be especially dangerous for people working inside a textile facility. Textile industry workers in the spinning and weaving areas of a facility are more likely to suffer hearing loss than office workers.
Excessive Water Use
Compared to other industries, the textile industry uses a high amount of water -- which is quickly becoming a scare resource in some parts of the world. In Australia, the textile industry uses 50 million cubic liters of water each year, or about 7 percent of the total water used by Australian industry. Textile facilities could take several steps to cut their total water usage, including the reuse of cooling water, or they could switch to methods that are more efficient.