Applied Technical Services performs Azo dye testing to identify the presence of Azo dyes in consumer products such as clothing, leather, and textiles. Azo dyes are synthetic chemical compounds that manufacturers use to treat certain products to give them more vibrant colors. Certain types of these dyes degrade over time, breaking down to produce aromatic amines, some of which have proven to be carcinogenic.
Several governing bodies, such as the California state government and the European Union (EU), have created restrictions on the inclusion of Azo dyes in consumer products. These restrictions are mostly limited to leather products and textiles that can have prolonged contact with the skin. The maximum concentration for each harmful amine is 10 parts-per-million (ppm). For a product to comply with these standards, a third-party testing laboratory must conduct Azo dye testing to prove that these harmful compounds make up less than 0.001% of a regulated product’s composition. Applied Technical Services provides Azo dye testing to help manufacturers avoid violating various consumer safety laws and industry regulations that restrict its presence in consumer products.
In clothing, manufacturers often use potentially harmful amines in base fabric, colored leather, beads, sequins, threading, zipper fabric, and buttons; they typically come from the following classes of colorants:
