Laundering as decontamination of apparel fabrics: residues of pesticides from six chemical classes.

Research on reducing the level of pesticide residue on a textile substrate has examined many variables under many different conditions. This study controlled fiber type and the use of prewash product in an examination of residue levels for a number of pesticides in different pesticide classes. For all pesticides examined, the use of prewash lowered pesticide residues regardless of fiber type. Differences in pesticide residue level attributable to fiber type were not consistent.