Hazardous materials found in kids' items from Chinese platforms
Children's summer textile products sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms have been found to contain toxic substances far exceeding permitted safety levels, the city announced Thursday.
In the latest safety inspection conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on 24 items of summer shoes and clothing for children from AliExpress, Shein and Temu, 14 were deemed unsuitable for sale.
According to the city government, products from Temu and AliExpress contained hazardous materials at levels up to 33 times higher than the country's legal standards.
Four types of summer shoes being sold on AliExpress contained a phthalate plasticizer that exceeds the legally permitted amount. The items were also found to have lead levels that exceeded standards by 25 times.
Phthalates are commonly used to increase the flexibility and longevity of plastics. But they are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect the body's reproductive function and increase the risk of cancers.
Lead exposure beyond safe levels can also negatively affect health, including the reproductive health and brain development of unborn children.
The city government underlined that the DEHP, or di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate, which is a chemical linked to various health concerns like developmental issues and potential carcinogenic effects, was also found in the shoes' insoles.
Three summer tops from AliExpress and one kids' shirt from Temu were ruled unsuitable for their high pH levels.
South Korea permits a pH range between 4 and 7.5, but three clothing items from AliExpress measured over 8.5, while the Temu top had a pH of 7.8.
The city government also detected nonylphenol that exceeded the standards by 1.3 times in a shirt sold on AliExpress.
Nonylphenol is a toxic substance known to disrupt estrogen and potentially cause infertility.
The city's exam revealed structural problems for five pairs of summer pants, such as excessive drawstring length, which can pose safety risks for children. A pair of children's pants also showed a pH level of 8, which is outside the permitted range of 4 to 7.5.
Items from Shein, meanwhile, tested within the acceptable limits.
The city government has requested that AliExpress and Temu halt sales of these products based on the findings and urged people here to be cautious when purchasing children's items through overseas shopping sites.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government added that it would continue safety inspections in June, focusing on children's umbrellas, raincoats and rain boots.
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