Of the 29 metals studied, 26 were found on more than 90% of the
towels tested. Gradient, a Cambridge, MA-based environmental-
and risk-science consulting firm published a study that finds
elevated levels of heavy metals in tested and laundered shop
towels. The study, “Evaluation of Potential Exposure to Metals
in Laundered Shop Towels,” builds up an earlier analysis
published in 2003 and concludes that, even after commercial
laundering, the towels studied retain elevated levels of metals.
This could result in printers being exposed to levels that
exceed agency guidelines, which are based on various health
problems, such as cancer. Commissioned by Kimberly-Clark
Professional, Gradient researchers analyzed data from laundered
shop towels submitted by 26 North American companies across
various manufacturing industries including a large number of
printers. The towels were submitted to an independent lab for
testing. Gradient found significantly higher levels of
contamination than in the similarly designed study f