Accessories Lanolin, Leather Straps & Skin

[Dr G]

There is no information on which chemicals are used except for tannic acid, other chemicals are mentioned but not named. Nor is there information which models are tanned with which chemicals. It reads as if they want to cloud the issue to reassure the buyer that it is safe without giving real info. Chrome tanned leather in straps can be a risk according to the info from the chemical institute of Canada so you would expect a clear statement that the leather is not chrome tanned.

I am with you regarding disclosure where it matters. I have used MSDS in most every job I have had for the last 40+ years. Could you please cite the source of your information so I may better understand its context and application?

I found the contact info page at Levys. Could you please frame the question you want answered?

Do we (collectively) know that there exists a chrome-tan process that it globally used that is accepted as “safe”? Or is the correct answer “If you are sensitive to chromium, don’t use chrome-tan processed leather. It is equally likely to cause sensitivity in any form due to the presence of chromium.”

If this is the case, I imagine that anyone with a sensitivity should avoid contact with any leather not known to be processed by veg-tan.

 

[PigSquealer]

Thanks for the feedback, Woodpad. I should have done a deeper dive before posting the link. They used to have a way to select “veg-tanned” leather. I’ll follow up with a note to the company if I can find their contact info.

Edit: Here’s a lil’ more. Veg-tanned vs “top grain” (chemically tanned). Garment is a subset of top grain, explicitly “chrome-tanned”.View attachment 35033

This is the same information I was able to view and posted on #16. So what we are seeing is all the same.

I am with you regarding disclosure where it matters. I have used MSDS in most every job I have had for the last 40+ years.

Oddly I do not believe a MSDS is required in final product consumer goods. It just needs to be available? The Prop 65 warning is the red flag.
This is different than the requirement to have all materials on site on record. The records to be easily accessed by all employees.

 

[PigSquealer]

Working some decades with different marketing specialists you get accustomed to their misinformation habits. As they learn to sell emotions without knowing the real dangers you have to be clear about this, before their baby projects can damage costumers.The lack of clarity in the information means that it is written by someone who doesn't want to talk about risks.

As an engineer in food processing I might be over reacting by habit, but within the 500+ products I introduced there are zero recalls. Also, do not wear saxophone pads om your skin when working out.

I completely understand. I spent 35 years in graphic arts / commercial printing. I’ve seen the good, bad and ugly. Food and cosmetics had some classics. Like “Mountain Spring” water…processed in Down Town Los Angeles. Cosmetics & personnel hygiene goods, that stuff is made from hazardous materials. Remember the trans fat years ? Lite beer, lite salad dressing, low fat potato chips and lite cigarettes !

 

[Woodpad]

If we concentrate on chrome tanned leather which contains mainly salts with Chrome 3+ ions there are two risks: allergy and accumulation in the body as with most heavy metals. When Chrome 3+ changes in Chrome 6+ as described by the chemical institute of Canada it ads two similar risks. But the literature sees body accumulation of Chrome6+ as the main risk:

IRIS Toxicological Review of Hexavalent Chromium (Final Report, 2024)

EPA has finalized the IRIS Toxicological Review of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)). This assessment add

iris.epa.gov

Toxic risk analysis balances health and economic considerations. From this it is no surprise that EU and US have different viewpoints:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935123005893

https://www.echa.europa.eu/-/echa-proposes-restrictions-on-chromium-vi-substances-to-protect-health

Not a fan of accumulation of heavy metals so I think of avoiding wearing leather on bare skin.

 

[Woodpad]

. Remember the trans fat years ?

A year after its use in food was limited the number of new heart patients suddenly dropped.

 

[Dr G]

This is the same information I was able to view and posted on #16. So what we are seeing is all the same.

This message brought to you by the Department of Repetitive Redundancy Department.

Oddly I do not believe a MSDS is required in final product consumer goods. It just needs to be available? The Prop 65 warning is the red flag.

The Prop 65 warning is so broad that it negates its impact when there is a truly elevated risk.

 

[skeller047]

The Prop 65 warning is so broad that it negates its impact when there is a truly elevated risk.

The Prop 65 warning is so broad that everyone includes it on their products. Because to NOT include it requires testing and documentation, which is so expensive that it’s just not worth it for most companies.