There are many good reasons to choose eco-friendly clothing over polyester clothing. Polyester clothing is produced from petroleum, which is an obviously unsustainable resource. It also takes a great deal of energy to produce polyester and since it is not biodegradable it fills up our landfills.

But new research also suggests that polyester may not be good for our health. Due to its synthetic structure, polyester clothing produces a very strong electrostatic potential. Recently, researchers have begun to explore the impact of electrostatic potential on our health. This investigation is revealing and terrifying.

One study, reference Shafik A, 2007, explored the effect of different types of textiles on pregnancy in 35 pregnant dogs divided equally into a control and four experimental groups. During pregnancy, the test groups dressed in a garment made of pure polyester, cotton or wool, or a 50/50 blend of polyester and cotton. Serum estradiol 17B and progesterone were measured before and every 15 days during pregnancy. The electrostatic potential on the skin was evaluated before and after wearing the garment.

Dogs wearing cotton, wool, and a polyester-cotton blend, as well as five of the seven wearing pure polyester garments, had normal serum estradiol and progesterone during pregnancy and produced normal offspring. The remaining two animals in the pure polyester group showed low serum progesterone levels in the first month of gestation and had spontaneous abortions. Mating was attempted in these two dogs during the subsequent estrous cycle without forcing them to wear polyester garments. The serum levels of reproductive hormones were normal and they produced normal offspring. Electrostatic potential was detected in the skin only of the polyester-coated groups, and it was higher in the pure polyester groups than in the mixed polyester groups.

Given the low number of participants in this study, no conclusions could be drawn. However, the fact that low serum progesterone and abortion was seen only in the pure polyester group is cause for concern. The abortion appears to be due to low serum progesterone that may have resulted from the deleterious effect of PD on ovarian or placental function.

Although this study was not statistically conclusive, previous research, referenced Shafik, 1999, conducted in human males was very clear. In the 1999 experiment, the impact of polyester on spermatogenesis was investigated. In that study, 11 male subjects wore polyester underwear. All subjects wearing polyester underwear developed a significant electrostatic charge in the scrotum. Of the 11 subjects, 4 individuals developed a significant reduction in sperm count as well as testicular degeneration after 14 months. In a control group wearing cotton underwear, no change in sperm count was observed.

Removal of polyester underwear produced a complete reversion in affected subjects to normal sperm count and removal of electrostatic potential.

The study went further to explore the possibility of using polyester as a male contraceptive. The contraceptive effect of a polyester sling applied to the scrotum was studied in 14 men who wore a polyester suspender for 12 months.

The sling consisted of polyester fabric and was designed so that the scrotum would sit within it.

The suspender was worn day and night and changed when it got dirty. I won’t go into the essential details, but the bottom line is that ALL subjects became azoospermic, zero sperm counts, after approximately 140 days. The good news is that the process was reversible.

It seems clear to this author that polyester has a real and negative impact on the human body, apparently due to the significant electrostatic potential produced by the fabric.

If you are trying to have children and you are a man, I suggest you get all the polyester underwear out of your drawers. If you are a woman, I suggest you take no chances and avoid wearing polyester clothing, at least during pregnancy. And while you’re at it, stock your wardrobe with some eco-friendly clothes. Not only will the planet appreciate it, but so will your health!