page_title: Textile industry in Bangladesh
section_title: Bleaching agents and azo dyes
hierarchical_section_title: Textile industry in Bangladesh / Workers' health / Chemical hazards / Bleaching agents and azo dyes
caption_attribution_description: English: Fake leather Jacket Made in Bangladesh
context_page_description: The textile and clothing industries provide the single source of growth in Bangladesh's rapidly developing economy. Exports of textiles and garments are the principal source of foreign exchange earnings. By 2002 exports of textiles, clothing, and ready-made garments accounted for 77% of Bangladesh's total merchandise exports.
  In 1972, the World Bank approximated the gross domestic product of Bangladesh at US$6.29 billion, and it grew to $173.82 billion by 2014, with $31.2 billion of that generated by exports, 82% of which was ready-made garments. As of 2016 Bangladesh held the 2nd place in producing garments just after China. Bangladesh is the world's second-largest apparel exporter of western fast fashion brands. Sixty percent of the export contracts of western brands are with European buyers and about thirty percent with American buyers and ten percent to others. Only 5% of textile factories are owned by foreign investors, with most of the production being controlled by local investors.
context_section_description: There are a wide range of chemicals utilized in textile production for dyeing and printing, which these workers can be exposed to.  These chemicals include but are not limited to bleaching agents and azo dyes.  Azo dyes, such as aniline and benzadine, accounting for over 50% of dyes produced annually as of 2006.  This was due to their high stability in light and washing as well as resistance to microbial activity.  The toxic effects of these dyes include hypersensitivity and irritant effects such as contact dermatitis and asthma, as well as exposure related concerns for such malignancies as bladder, nasal, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectal, nasopharyngeal and lung cancers.  Studies have postulated that hypersensitivity effects may be due to alterations in neutrophil function and sensitization, contributing to chronic inflammatory diseases of the skin and respiratory tract.  Once this sensitization has occurred, an individual becomes more susceptible to developing allergic disease on subsequent contact with the offending agent. Exposure from these chemicals typically occurs via direct contact with the skin or inhalation of dye particles. While as of 2006 there was no evidence to suggest that most dyestuffs then in use in these industries were harmful at the levels workers were generally exposed to, there was concern with long term or accidental over-exposure.  This long term or excessive exposure can sensitize the worker's immune system, leading to hypersensitivity reactions such as asthma and atopic dermatitis on subsequent exposure as mentioned above.  Additionally, studies have demonstrated concerns regarding exposure to textile dyes and occupational bladder cancer due to aniline dye intermediates such as beta-naphthylamine and benzidine, which has long been identified as a human urinary carcinogen. The latency period between exposure and diagnosis has been estimated at up to 23 years.  As of 2006, screening recommendations for detection of long-term health effects from dye exposure included hematologic testing to look for microcytic anemia and leukopenia.  However, many females working in this industry did not have access to such screening and surveillance due to lack of quality medical care.
caption: Bangladeshi leather industry. About 0.5 million residents of the Bangladesh capital, Dhaka are at risk of serious health issues due to chemical pollution from tanneries near their homes.
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