Cotton with a Conscience Unlike clothing made with some synthetic fibers, cotton clothes feel good and allow the skin to breathe. But cotton also has a dark side in regards to human and environmental health. In addition to harming wildlife and poisoning ground water, these toxic chemicals also threaten farm workers and, possibly, consumers. After cotton is grown, it is usually chlorine bleached, defoliated, and starch sized. Dioxin is associated with cancer, endocrine disruption, immune system impairment and learning disorders.
Organic cotton is grown without the toxic chemicals that can harm the environment or people.
About 30,000 acres of organic cotton are now grown in the U.S., and more than 100 companies are selling cotton products ranging from clothing to tampons.