There have been many serious cases of pesticide poisonings linked with this cotton production. For example, one of the chemicals involved in cotton production, endosulfan, was responsible for a 250,000 fish kill in Alabama in 1995 after heavy rainfall washed the chemical into a river. This chemical is a suspected carcinogen. Organic cotton is grown without the use of synthetic chemical fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators or defoliants. Instead, farmers rely on organic farming practices and principles.
Farmers also employ human labor to cut weeds.
When switching to organic cotton production, all residue from conventional cotton must be removed. To earn the organic label, cotton must follow this rule and be grown on soil that has been free of synthetic pesticides for at least three years. Buying transitional cotton fabric thus supports the concept of organic cotton. FoxFibre cotton is genetically bred to grow in shades of brown, green, reddish brown and yellow, thus eliminating the need for toxic dyes. Whether or not you agree with genetically modifying plants, this fabric is produced without polluting waterways and can be worn by people who have allergic reactions to the chemicals involved in the dyeing process.