I know there is a growing awareness of the quality of our food. Maybe we need to pay attention to what is going into other items too - like clothing.
High levels of toxic chemicals have been found in the shoes of well-known South African retailers, raising concern about the health hazards contained in these "throwaway items" the world over.

In a study released last week, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) found high levels of a toxic chemical known as diethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) in 17 out of 27 pairs of shoes manufactured in various countries including India, Indonesia, Tanzania, The Philippines, Sweden and South Africa.

The chemical can cause cancer, severe damage to a developing foetus and the central nervous system.

--and--

The inner sole of the Pep shoe tested positive for DEHP as well as cadmium and chromium, while all four pairs of shoes contained lead.
full story from Business Report here