If you peek behind the racks at your favorite fast fashion retailer, you might not see the full story—but it’s unfolding thousands of miles away. Fast fashion companies dump toxic dyes, solvents, heavy metals, and untreated, chemical-laden wastewater directly into the land and water systems that communities rely on.
From rivers bleeding with vivid dye pollution to landfills swollen with synthetic fibers that never decompose, these practices are poisoning ecosystems and human health alike.
But the harm doesn’t end in factory towns—those toxins make their way into the clothes we buy and, in some cases, onto the skin of our children. These garments aren’t just polluting the Earth; they’re jeopardizing the most vulnerable among us: infants and young children.
In this article, we’ll explore how fast fashion’s factory waste and pervasive pollution are linked to infant safety—and may even contribute to rising infant mortality rates—unpacking the hidden human cost behind cheap clothing.
What is the Infant Mortality Rate?
The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) measures the number of children who die before reaching their first birthday. It’s typically expressed as the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births in a given population and time period.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declares IMR not just as a simple ratio, but as the probability a newborn will die before age one, given the age-specific mortality rates during that period, expressed per 1,000 live births.
What is the Meaning of High Infant Mortality Rate?
A high Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) i.e., the number of infant deaths per 1,000 live births signals systemic failures in healthcare, sanitation, and social infrastructure. It typically reflects inadequate prenatal and neonatal care, poor maternal nutrition, and limited access to clean water and sanitation.
In regions with high infant mortality rate, environmental factors such as pollution, including contaminated water and air, can exacerbate health risks for infants.
For instance, exposure to polluted air and water has been linked to premature births and low birth weight, both significant contributors to infant mortality.
Therefore, a high IMR not only indicates immediate health challenges but also underscores broader issues like environmental degradation and socioeconomic disparities.
How Fast Fashion Causes Water Pollution
Producing just one cotton T‑shirt typically consumes around 2,700 liters of water that’s roughly what one person drinks in 2.5 years. Meanwhile, a single pair of jeans may require over 7,500 liters, or close to 2,000 gallons.
Globally, the fashion industry uses an estimated 93 billion cubic meters of water annually accounting for about 4% of all freshwater withdrawals worldwide.
Dyeing and finishing processes in textile manufacturing are responsible for approximately 20% of global industrial wastewater. These processed waters are often laced with toxic chemicals dyes, heavy metals, solvents, and microplastics that devastate aquatic ecosystems and poison local drinking water sources.
Real World Consequences of Water Pollution
In places like Bangladesh, garment factories use staggering volumes of water, discharging more than a thousand billion liters annually, overwhelming local capacity and contaminating groundwater. Similarly, In Indonesia, the Citarum River in Bandung has become notoriously polluted by textile factory effluents dumping 340,000 tons of wastewater daily, laden with heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic) and chemical toxins.
How Fast Fashion Causes Air Pollution
Fast fashion’s environmental footprint extends beyond water pollution to significant contributions to air pollution. The rapid production cycles and extensive transportation networks required to meet the demand for inexpensive clothing lead to increased emissions from factories and vehicles.
These emissions release harmful pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere. In regions like Punjab, Pakistan, where textile manufacturing is prevalent, these pollutants contribute to smog and deteriorate air quality, posing serious health risks to the population.
Real World Consequences of Air Pollution
Children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of air pollution due to their developing respiratory systems and higher breathing rates. Exposure to polluted air has been linked to respiratory infections, reduced lung function, and developmental issues.
In Punjab, over 11 million children under the age of five are exposed to toxic air, with air pollution accounting for approximately 12% of deaths in children under five in Pakistan.
Such exposure can lead to premature births, low birth weights, and other complications, increasing the risk of infant mortality. The fast fashion industry’s contribution to air pollution exacerbates these health challenges, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices to protect vulnerable populations.
Environmental Impact of Fast Fashion and Infant Health Concerns
The fast fashion industry’s practices, including the use of synthetic fibers and chemical treatments, contribute significantly to environmental pollution. Synthetic fibers, such as polyester, release microplastics and pollutants during production and washing, which can enter the atmosphere and exacerbate air quality issues.
The emission of these pollutants not only harms the environment but also poses direct health risks to infants and children, increasing the likelihood of respiratory diseases and other health complications.
How Does Fast Fashion Impact Infant Mortality Rate?
Fast fashion’s heavy pollution load harms the environments where families live, leading to increased risks of infant health problems and death. The industry’s impact on air and water quality is a major, though often overlooked, factor driving higher infant mortality rates in affected areas.
Fast fashion can negatively impact infant mortality rates, particularly in low-income, industrializing regions where much of the clothing is produced. This is similar in some ways to patterns observed in rural industrial areas of 17th–19th century England, where infant mortality was not evenly spread but heavily concentrated among the most vulnerable families.
A noteworthy research from a proto-industrial township in West Yorkshire (1650–1830) found that while average infant mortality rates were moderate, they were disproportionately high among poor migrant families living on the margins of society. These families often lived in overcrowded conditions with poor sanitation, exposure to industrial waste and limited access to healthcare.
Today, fast fashion has recreated many of these harmful conditions in modern industrial settings, particularly in parts of South Asia, Africa, and America.
Studies have shown that even a modest increase in particulate matter concentrations can significantly elevate infant mortality rates. A Stanford-led study found that a 25% increase in annual mean particulate concentrations in West Africa led to an 18% rise in infant mortality.
Similarly, research shows that exposure to pollutants such as PM10, NO₂, and SO₂ correlates with higher infant mortality rates—particularly within the first month of life—underscoring the urgent need to address air pollution as a key determinant of infant health.
The fast fashion industry’s contribution to air, water and land pollution exacerbates these health challenges, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable practices to protect vulnerable populations especially children.
The Fast Fashion Infant Mortality Rate Connection
Fast fashion pollution is linked to rising infant mortality rates because children are more vulnerable to its harmful effects due to their developing bodies and faster breathing rates, leading to increased risks of low birth weight, preterm birth, and respiratory or cardiovascular issues that can cause death.
Exposure to pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and others has been shown to directly increase infant deaths, particularly in regions with poor air quality.
According to a ten-year study conducted in Tehran, Iran, by NIH revealed a significant link between air pollution and rising infant mortality rates. By analyzing over 23,000 infant deaths from 2009 to 2018 alongside air quality data, researchers found that even a small increase in PM10 levels (10 µg/m³) led to a measurable rise in infant deaths.
The study also noted that cold temperatures intensified this effect, with a notable spike in mortality risk observed within 5–10 days after exposure. These findings highlight how environmental factors, particularly air pollution mainly caused by factories, are critical contributors to the increasing infant mortality rate in urban areas such as Tehran.
How You Can Help with Infant Clothing Safety
Choosing sustainable brands to shop from plays a crucial role in protecting children’s health and reducing infant mortality rates. These brands adopt environmentally and socially responsible practices that contribute to a healthier planet and safer communities—especially for vulnerable populations like infants.
How Sustainable Shopping Helps Protect Children and Reduce Infant Mortality
- Reduces Air and Water Pollution:
Sustainable brands limit the release of harmful pollutants (like PM2.5 and PM10), which are linked to respiratory issues and increased infant mortality. - Lowers Carbon Emissions:
Eco-conscious production methods contribute to cleaner air and mitigate the effects of climate change, which can exacerbate health issues in children. - Avoids Toxic Chemicals:
Many sustainable brands avoid harmful substances in their products, reducing exposure to toxins that can affect child development, especially in newborns. See our guide to non-toxic fashion to learn more. - Supports Ethical Labor Practices:
These brands often adhere to fair labor standards, reducing child labor and ensuring healthier, safer environments for families. - Improves Waste Management:
By minimizing industrial waste and promoting recycling, sustainable companies help prevent environmental contamination that could impact drinking water and soil quality, both vital for children’s health. - Promotes Healthier Communities:
Cleaner production practices lead to healthier living conditions, especially in urban and industrial areas where infants are most at risk.
Learn how to build a sustainable wardrobe to contribute to the betterment of society. By choosing to support sustainable brands, consumers play a direct role in creating a safer, healthier world for children, one purchase at a time.
How To Choose The Right Sustainable Brand
Choosing the right sustainable brand can be overwhelming, especially with so many companies using buzzwords like “eco-friendly” or “green” without clear proof. The key is to look beyond surface-level marketing and dig into how a brand actually operates.
Start by checking for transparency, does the brand clearly share where its products are made, how workers are treated, and what materials are used? Reliable certifications can also help signal genuine commitment to ethical and environmental standards.
Look for efforts to reduce waste, such as offering repairs, take-back programs, or using recycled and low-impact materials. For more tips check out our guide: how to spot sustainable brands in 5 minutes.
At Eco-Stylist, we make this process easier by researching and rating the sustainable brands based on transparency, fair labor practices, and sustainable production. Our Certified brands have met rigorous standards, making it easier for you to shop with confidence.
Whether you’re just beginning your ethical fashion journey or looking to deepen your impact, Eco-Stylist is a trusted resource to help you find brands that align with your values without compromising on style.
Saher Aamir has a master’s degree in Development Studies with a focus on female entrepreneurship. Passionate about natural habitat preservation, she loves crochet, cross-stitch, reading, and watching wild-life documentaries.
About the Sources
This article is grounded in reputable historical and contemporary research on infant mortality rates. It also draws on current academic and journalistic sources that explore the health and labor impacts of modern industries like fast fashion. Together, these sources provide a well-supported foundation for understanding how unsustainable production practices have been directly and indirectly influencing infant health and survival.
References
- https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/press-releases/over-11-million-children-under-5-peril-they-breathe-toxic-air-punjab-pakistan-unicef
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41893-020-0562-1
- https://www.who.int/data/gho/indicator-metadata-registry/imr-details/1
- https://jscholarship.library.jhu.edu/items/6264b78d-3625-4480-910d-b9b45682baf7
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1047279707002086
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10362819
- https://academic.oup.com/shm/article-abstract/10/1/3/1611645
