**7. The future**

An anti-microbial finish for textiles involving skin contact will need additional safety data concerning this aspect. For manufacturers with biocides with relatively low volumes the cost of generating the necessary data may make ongoing production uneconomical. Acute toxicity data is relatively cheap to generate but sub-acute and other long-term studies are very expensive. It is therefore likely that the number of biocides being produced in the future will diminish and bringing new products to market will be even more expensive. A possible future development would be the micro-encapsulation of biocides. The potential is considerable if the correct performance and economics can be achieved. Benefits could include better durability and greater safety. The search for more cost-effective testing methods will continue.

Overall the need for anti-microbial and hygiene finishes looks set to continue for the foreseeable future. Improving performance and cost-effectiveness, while meeting environmental and toxicity requirements, will continue to challenge those working in this field. (Heywood, 2003)
