A new study commissioned by Kimberly-Clark suggests that metal exposure from the use of laundered shop towels rather than disposable nonwovens often significantly exceeds the permissible levels allowed by health authorities.

However, this month the TRSA (Textile Rental Services Association) which represents the suppliers of laundered garments and towels, has come out fighting.

“Disposable industrial wiper marketers are having a hard time disproving the safety of reusable shop towels so they resort to comical video tactics that portray shop towels as food to infer that they get into people’s bodies,” the organisation declares on its website. “It’s ridiculous.”

Environmental and risk science consulting firm Gradient’s data was summarised at the 2012 World of Wipes conference in Chicago, by K-C research scientist Kimberly Dennis-MacDougal.

“Much is known about human exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace by inhalation and skin contact, but there has been little systematic research into the ingestion of hazardous substances used at work up to now,” she said.