high-maintenance
One of the Regulars
- Messages
- 214
Hi guys
I recently came across the carcinogenicity of hexavalent chromium used in chrome tanning process.
It is a well known fact that hexavalent chromium is a certified carcinogen (IARC class I, which means it is carcinogen without any doubt).
Some say it's okay because almost all of the chromium used during tanning process will remain trivalent chromium and extremely low percentage of them will turn into hexavalent so it's safe to use. But some studies showed that many commercial leather products (like leather gloves) on the market had an above-limit hexavalent chromium level. (Trivalent chromium is not toxic but it can be oxidized to hexavalent chromium under certain circumstances (aging, exposure to UV light or sweat, heat, etc.))
I currently have more than 10 leather jackets and 8 of them are chrome tanned. They cost an arm and a leg so selling them is not really an option. And I prefer chrome tanned leather over vegetable tanned leather so you see the dilemma here.
If you think about it, almost every upholstery, including sofa or car seat covers, is made of chrome tanned leather, so I think it is virtually impossible to be completely free of 'chrome tanned leather'. Not to mention boots we wear more than 8 hours a day.
So what do you think? Should I throw away chrome tanned pieces and replace them with veg-tanned ones?
Do you think wearing leather jackets can actually slowly kill the user?
I am hypochondriac by nature so keep that in mind.
Thanks
I recently came across the carcinogenicity of hexavalent chromium used in chrome tanning process.
It is a well known fact that hexavalent chromium is a certified carcinogen (IARC class I, which means it is carcinogen without any doubt).
Some say it's okay because almost all of the chromium used during tanning process will remain trivalent chromium and extremely low percentage of them will turn into hexavalent so it's safe to use. But some studies showed that many commercial leather products (like leather gloves) on the market had an above-limit hexavalent chromium level. (Trivalent chromium is not toxic but it can be oxidized to hexavalent chromium under certain circumstances (aging, exposure to UV light or sweat, heat, etc.))
I currently have more than 10 leather jackets and 8 of them are chrome tanned. They cost an arm and a leg so selling them is not really an option. And I prefer chrome tanned leather over vegetable tanned leather so you see the dilemma here.
If you think about it, almost every upholstery, including sofa or car seat covers, is made of chrome tanned leather, so I think it is virtually impossible to be completely free of 'chrome tanned leather'. Not to mention boots we wear more than 8 hours a day.
So what do you think? Should I throw away chrome tanned pieces and replace them with veg-tanned ones?
Do you think wearing leather jackets can actually slowly kill the user?
I am hypochondriac by nature so keep that in mind.
Thanks
Last edited: