Leather 1. Leather itself is a booming industry. Contrary to belief, it is not solely a byproduct of the slaughter house.
2. The massive number of animals skins necessary to meet the demands of the leather industry rule out the possibility of humane treatment.
3. Animals suffer the conditions of the factory farms. They must endure cramped conditions, unaesthetized mutilations and cruel treatment. 4. 4. Animals are sometimes skinned alive or lowered into tanks of boiling water to soften their skin.
5. Once the skin is tanned, it is unidentifiable. Cows are not the only animals used to make leather. Horses, sheep, lambs, goats, pigs may also be used. 6. Exotic animal skins that are used for leather are: zebras, bison, water buffaloes, bears, kangaroos, elephants, eels, sharks, dolphins, seals, walruses, frogs, turtles, crocodiles, lizards and snakes.
7. The tanning process is horrible for the environment. It is an energy intensive and polluting practice. 8. Over ninety-five percent of all leather produced in the U.S. is chrome-tanned. All waste products containing chromium are considered hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 9. Leather products are not biodegradable. The tanning process it is put through prevents the skin from deteriorating. 10. Studies have shown that living or working in the presence of a tannery increases the risk of cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the incidence of leukemia in the surrounding area of a tannery was five times the national average. In leather tanneries in Sweden and Italy, studies have found the risk of cancer to be between 20%-50% above those expected.
