The non-governmental organization, Greenpeace, purchased 78 pieces of clothing and shoes manufactured by 15 brands from 18 countries, and tests revealed that two-thirds of them, including those Clothing and Garment Manufacturing, a Chinese sportswear brand, contained the chemical nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE).

The items were produced in 13 countries, including China, Thailand and Indonesia.
NPE transforms into nonylphenol (NP), which interferes with sexual development by simulating estrogen.

"Medical research shows that indications of NP are higher in the body of precocious girls than they are for other girls the same age," said Li Yifang, toxics prevention campaigner at Greenpeace, an international environmental organization.

Li said experiments have shown the substance can cause male fish to grow female organs at a concentration as low as 0.02 milligram per liter in water."We should be aware of its hazards before scientists tell us how much it will hurt us and to what extent," Li said.

In addition to its harmful affects on humans, the chemical is also a virulent poison to marine life.

"The chemical is toxic to aquatic animals and plants, patek philippe replica and even very low concentrations can kill fish," Li said.

However, Greenpeace said the clothing manufacturers are being misleading when they refer to the EU standard.

"The number 0.1 percent refers to the highest permitted concentration of the forbidden chemical in manufacture, not the limit for residue on clothes," Li said.

The organization urged the clothing manufacturers to make public of their use of toxic substances so that the public can better supervise the companies' practice of weeding out the chemicals.