Editing Cotton (section)

==Uses==
[[File:CSIRO ScienceImage 10736 Manually decontaminating cotton before processing at an Indian spinning mill.jpg|thumb|Workers sort through cotton to remove contaminants. The workers wear masks to reduce the number of fibers they inhale.]]

Cotton is used to make a number of textile products. These include [[terrycloth]] for highly absorbent bath [[towel]]s and [[robe]]s; [[denim]] for [[Jeans|blue jeans]]; [[cambric]], popularly used in the manufacture of blue work shirts (from which the term "[[blue-collar]]" is derived) and [[corduroy]], [[seersucker]], and cotton [[twill]]. [[Sock]]s, [[underwear]], and most [[T-shirt]]s are made from cotton. Bed sheets often are made from cotton. It is a preferred material for sheets as it is hypoallergenic, easy to maintain and non-irritant to the skin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Why choose cotton bedding?|work=Double Jersey |date=10 March 2021|url=https://www.doublejersey.be/why-choose-cotton-bedding/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513235830/https://www.doublejersey.be/why-choose-cotton-bedding/ |archive-date=13 May 2021 }}</ref> Cotton also is used to make yarn used in [[crochet]] and [[knitting]]. Fabric also can be made from recycled or recovered cotton that otherwise would be thrown away during the spinning, weaving, or cutting process. While many fabrics are made completely of cotton, some materials blend cotton with other fibers, including [[rayon]] and [[synthetic fiber]]s such as [[polyester]]. It can either be used in knitted or woven fabrics, as it can be blended with elastine to make a stretchier thread for knitted fabrics, and apparel such as stretch jeans. Cotton can be blended also with [[linen]] producing fabrics with the benefits of both materials. Linen-cotton blends are wrinkle resistant and retain heat more effectively than only linen, and are thinner, stronger and lighter than only cotton.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reference.com/home-garden/difference-between-cotton-linen-40242bc2265acaef |title=What is the difference between cotton and linen? |access-date=20 September 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017073804/https://www.reference.com/home-garden/difference-between-cotton-linen-40242bc2265acaef |archive-date=17 October 2016}}</ref>

In addition to the [[textile industry]], cotton is used in [[fishing net]]s, [[coffee filter]]s, [[tent]]s, explosives manufacture (see [[nitrocellulose]]), [[cotton paper]], and in [[bookbinding]]. [[Fire hose]]s were once made of cotton.

The cottonseed which remains after the cotton is ginned is used to produce [[cottonseed oil]], which, after refining, can be consumed by humans like any other [[vegetable oil]]. The [[cottonseed meal]] that is left generally is fed to [[ruminant]] livestock; the [[gossypol]] remaining in the meal is toxic to [[monogastric]] animals. Cottonseed hulls can be added to dairy cattle rations for roughage. During the American slavery period, cotton root bark was used in [[folk remedies]] as an [[abortifacient]], that is, to induce a miscarriage. Gossypol was one of the many substances found in all parts of the cotton plant and it was described by the scientists as 'poisonous pigment'. It also appears to inhibit the development of sperm or even restrict the mobility of the sperm. Also, it is thought to interfere with the menstrual cycle by restricting the release of certain hormones.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Resisting Reproduction: Reconsidering Slave Contraception in the Old South |author=Perrin, Liese M. |journal=Journal of American Studies |volume=35 |year=2001 |pages=255–274|doi=10.1017/S0021875801006612 |jstor=27556967 |issue=2|s2cid=145799076 }}</ref>

Cotton linters are fine, silky fibers which adhere to the seeds of the cotton plant after ginning. These curly fibers typically are less than {{convert|1/8|in|mm}} long. The term also may apply to the longer textile fiber staple lint as well as the shorter fuzzy fibers from some upland species. Linters are traditionally used in the manufacture of paper and as a raw material in the manufacture of [[cellulose]]. In the UK, linters are referred to as "cotton wool".
[[File:Cotton pads - Δίσκοι ντεμακιγιάζ.JPG|thumb|Cotton is made into balls, [[Cotton swab|swabs]], and [[Cotton pad|pads]] for applying and removing cosmetics.]]

A less technical use of the term "cotton wool", in the UK and Ireland, is for the refined product known as "absorbent cotton" (or, often, just "cotton") in U.S. usage: fluffy cotton in sheets or balls used for [[medical]], [[Cosmetics|cosmetic]], protective packaging, and many other practical purposes. The first medical use of cotton wool was by [[Sampson Gamgee]] at the Queen's Hospital (later the General Hospital) in [[Birmingham]], England.

Long staple (LS cotton) is cotton of a longer fibre length and therefore of higher quality, while [[Gossypium barbadense|Extra-long staple cotton]] (ELS cotton) has longer fibre length still and of even higher quality. The name "Egyptian cotton" is broadly associated high quality cottons and is often an LS or (less often) an ELS cotton.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100503015520/http://www.cottonguide.org/chapter-5/extra-long-staple-cotton Chapter 5. Extra long staple cotton]. cottonguide.org</ref> Nowadays the name "Egyptian cotton" refers more to the way cotton is treated and threads produced rather than the location where it is grown. The American cotton variety ''Pima'' cotton is often compared to Egyptian cotton, as both are used in high quality bed sheets and other cotton products. While Pima cotton is often grown in the American southwest,<ref>{{cite thesis |last=McGowan |first=Joseph Clarence |date=1960 |title=History of extra-long staple cottons |type=M.A. |chapter=XII |publisher=The University of Arizona. |citeseerx=10.1.1.1003.1154 }}</ref> the Pima name is now used by cotton-producing nations such as Peru, Australia and Israel.<ref>[http://www.cottonguide.org/cotton-guide/market-segments-extra-long-staple-cotton/ "5.2-Market segments-Extra long staple cotton"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121144756/http://www.cottonguide.org/cotton-guide/market-segments-extra-long-staple-cotton/ |date=21 January 2015 }}. ''cottonguide.org''.</ref> Not all products bearing the Pima name are made with the finest cotton: American-grown ELS Pima cotton is trademarked as ''Supima'' cotton.<ref>{{cite web |title=Supima Cotton - FAQ |url=http://supima.com/faq |access-date=13 July 2018}}</ref> "Kasturi" cotton is a brand-building initiative for Indian long staple cotton by the [[Ministry of Textiles|Indian government]]. The [[Press Information Bureau|PIB]] issued a press release announcing the same.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-07|title=Ginners expected to produce 8-10 lakh bales of 'branded' Kasturi cotton this season|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ginners-expected-to-produce-8-10-lakh-bales-of-branded-kasturi-cotton-this-season-6708717/|access-date=2021-08-12|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Today|first=Telangana|title=Cotton research centres to be set up at Adilabad, Warangal|url=https://telanganatoday.com/cotton-research-centres-to-be-set-up-at-adilabad-warangal|access-date=2021-08-12|website=Telangana Today|date=6 August 2021|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Indian cotton gets 'Kasturi' branding, logo |url=https://www.thehindu.com/business/indian-cotton-gets-kasturi-branding-logo/article32816396.ece |work=The Hindu |date=9 October 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230730125309/https://www.thehindu.com/business/indian-cotton-gets-kasturi-branding-logo/article32816396.ece |archive-date= Jul 30, 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Kasturi, the first national brand of Indian cotton can fetch at least a 5% price premium: Experts|work=The Economic Times|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/foreign-trade/kasturi-the-first-national-brand-of-indian-cotton-can-fetch-at-least-a-5-price-premium-experts/articleshow/78605516.cms |date=Oct 11, 2020 |access-date=2021-08-12}}</ref><ref name="Cotton-Day-India">{{Cite web|title=India gets its first ever Brand & Logo for its Cotton on 2nd World Cotton Day – A Historic Day for Indian Cotton!|url=https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1662480 |date=7 Oct 2020 |access-date=2021-08-12|website=Press Information Bureau}}</ref>

Cottons have been grown as ornamentals or novelties due to their showy flowers and snowball-like fruit. For example, [[Gossypium barbadense#jumels|Jumel's cotton]], once an important source of fiber in Egypt, started as an ornamental.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Porcher |first1=Richard D. |last2=Fick |first2=Sarah |title=The story of Sea Island cotton |date=2005 |publisher=Wyrick & Company |location=Charleston, South Carolina |isbn=0-941711-73-0 |pages=82–83}}</ref> However, agricultural authorities such as the [[Boll Weevil Eradication Program]] in the United States discourage using cotton as an ornamental, due to concerns about these plants harboring pests injurious to crops.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Glasgow|first=Tom|date=27 November 2015|title=Cotton growers must comply with state regulations|url=https://www.newbernsj.com/article/20151127/LIFESTYLE/151129187|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212143111/https://www.newbernsj.com/article/20151127/LIFESTYLE/151129187|archive-date=12 December 2015|access-date=2020-10-09|website=New Bern Sun Journal|language=en|location=North Carolina}}</ref>

[[File:Shimul tula (cotton).jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Cotton in a tree]]