Is Cotton Toxic? Pesticides Are Seriously Bad News...Here's Why

Hey fellas, NADS blogman, checking in. As you know, we're all about helping you make informed choices about what you put on your body. So today, we’re going to talk about a group of nasty substances you really do not want on your skin: pesticides.

You may already know that ingesting pesticides is not great for your health. Hence why it’s important to buy organic food. But did you know that pesticides can also be absorbed through the skin? That's right – the outermost layer of your skin, the epidermis, can absorb pesticides and allow them to enter your bloodstream. While direct skin contact with pesticide spray/concentrate is the most dangerous means of exposure/absorption, skin contact with materials that contain pesticides is a risk not to be taken lightly. 

Now, we know there is not a one size fits all solution to risk exposure. The rate of absorption varies depending on a range of factors, such as age, ambient temperature, humidity, and pesticide concentration. Did you know that in 2019 the cotton crop ranked as the third largest consumer of pesticides in the US, having utilized over 67 million pounds that year? That’s nuts! No pun intended. 

When it comes to our bodies and pesticide exposure, we believe in playing it safe. That's why the cotton we use in our garments is GOTS certified organic, which means it is free from any harmful pesticides or similar chemicals. These substances are strictly prohibited during the farming, production, and finishing processes of all GOTS certified products. Why put clothing made with pesticides on your skin if you simply don’t have to? 

Also, RED ALERT here, it’s been found that not all parts of your body absorb pesticides at the same rate. For example, pesticides are absorbed 12 times faster at the site of the genitals compared to the forearms, four times faster at the site of the head, and three times faster at the site of the trunk. Yikes. Pesticides on your package? No thanks.

While we’re not trying to deliberately instill fear, we are deliberately trying to instill a sense of urgency. Not a sense of urgency to force anyone’s hand, but rather to educate on the significance of the issue at hand. As long as we educate, our job is done. It’s then on the individual to do with the information what they please! 

For us, we don’t believe in taking any risks that can be avoided. Simple as that. We started NADS because we wanted men to have an option to avoid the risk of chemical exposure to the nuts. We aim to educate and offer a viable health-first solution to the problem. It’s really just a bonus that our gear is super soft, durable, comfortable, and stylish. 

At the end of the day, we want you to feel confident and informed about the choices you make for your body. That's why we're committed to using only the cleanest certified materials in our underwear, so you can feel good about what you're putting on your skin. Stay safe, stay healthy, and keep questioning everything! Reclaiming your health starts with challenging the norms and incessantly asking why!