A women’s underwear item sold by the Chinese online retailer Shein has been found to contain harmful substances exceeding the standard limit by 2.9 times.
On the 17th, Seoul City announced that it had conducted safety inspections on 300 products, including food containers, cosmetics, underwear, and sanitary products sold on AliExpress, Temu, and Shein (Altesh). The inspections revealed harmful substances in 20 of these products.
In a pair of women’s panties sold by Shein, the carcinogen arylamine was detected at a level exceeding the South Korean standard by 2.9 times (30 mg/kg). The total amount detected was 87.9 mg/kg.
Arylamine is a chemical dye used in textile dyeing. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a subsidiary of the World Health Organization (WHO), classifies it as a human carcinogen (Group 1).
Specifically, arylamine compounds are known to increase the risk of bladder cancer. Seoul City officials described the detection of arylamine in underwear that comes into direct contact with the skin as a severe issue.
A total of 14 cosmetics were found to exceed or not meet South Korean standards. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in two lipsticks sold by Ali and Shein, while blusher products from Ali contained both Staphylococcus aureus and aerobic bacteria in two instances.
According to South Korean cosmetic safety management standards, Staphylococcus aureus, a pathogenic bacterium, should not be detected. It can cause skin infections such as rash and atopic dermatitis if it infects the skin.
Elevated levels of aerobic bacteria can decompose or alter the ingredients of cosmetics, thereby reducing the product’s effectiveness and shortening its shelf life.
Products from Chinese shopping malls weren’t just problematic in terms of ingredients. Two lipsticks, two blushers, and three foundations were found to have a shortfall in product volume ranging from 7% to as much as 23% compared to the labeled quantity.
Furthermore, in four nail products sold by Ali and Shein, nickel was found at levels exceeding South Korean standard (10 μg/g) by up to 97.4 times (974.2 μg/g), and dioctyl phthalate (DEHP) exceeded the South Korean standard (100 μg/g) by 1.6 times (167.8 μg/g).
Nickel is a prominent metal known to cause allergic contact dermatitis. Contact with the skin can induce allergy symptoms such as swelling, rash, and itching. Prolonged exposure can exacerbate chronic dermatitis or asthma.
In particular, dioxane, a by-product produced during softening of cosmetic ingredients, is classified as a potentially carcinogenic substance (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a World Health Organization (WHO) division. Exposure to dioxane can irritate the respiratory tract and cornea.
In five pieces of enamelware sold by Ali and Temu, cadmium exceeded South Korean standard (0.07mg/L) by up to 97.4 times, and lead exceeded South Korean standard (0.8mg/L) by up to 7 times.
Cadmium can cause conditions such as osteoporosis and kidney damage with prolonged exposure, and it can also lead to lung cancer. Lead exposure exceeding safety standards can increase the risk of developmental delays in children and miscarriage risk in pregnant women.
Internationally purchased products enter the South Korean market without undergoing separate safety certifications required for officially imported products, leaving consumers in a safety blind spot.
The city plans to request the suspension of sales from relevant agencies such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and international online platforms that have problematic products identified in this inspection.
Kim Tae Hee, Director of the Citizen Health Division at Seoul City, emphasized, “Due to the detection of carcinogens and potentially carcinogenic substances in underwear, cosmetics, and food containers that directly contact the skin, special caution is necessary when purchasing these products,” adding, “We will continue to prioritize the prevention of consumer harm through ongoing safety inspections in the future.”