The city of Seoul announced on the 4th that in a safety inspection of 12 products such as children’s shoes, hats, bags, and jackets from overseas online platforms, harmful substances exceeding domestic standards were detected in 6 products. In some products, phthalate plasticizers were found to have exceeded the standard by up to 680 times. The items in question also failed physical performance tests.
In this inspection, Seoul tested 12 children’s and infant textile products sold on Shein, Temu, and AliExpress for the presence of harmful chemicals and durability (mechanical and physical characteristics).
DEHP (Diethylhexyl Phthalate) and DBP, two types of phthalate plasticizers, were detected in children’s boots. Phthalate plasticizers exceeded the standard by approximately 680 times in the ribbon part of the shoes, and by approximately 483 times and 44 times in the transparent flexible part and the pink flexible part around the edges, respectively.
Phthalate plasticizers are endocrine-disrupting substances that can affect reproductive functions such as reduced sperm count, infertility, and miscarriage. Contact with these substances can irritate the eyes, skin, and other organs. Among them, DEHP is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B).
Harmful substances exceeding domestic standards were also detected in two types of children’s bags. The outer fabric of a children’s backpack had a pH of 9.4, which exceeded the standard range (4.0~7.5), resulting in a judgment of non-compliance with domestic standards.
Four types of phthalate plasticizers (DIBP, DEHP, DBP, DINP) were detected at approximately 11 times the standard limit in the printing area of the bag’s outer surface. In another children’s bag, formaldehyde in the lining exceeded the standard by approximately twice the limit.
If the pH of textile products deviates from the standard range to become strongly acidic or strongly alkaline, it may potentially cause skin irritation, allergic contact dermatitis, and other related skin conditions. Formaldehyde, a major contaminant that causes sick-building syndrome, is carcinogenic and can induce eye irritation, respiratory difficulties, headaches, and more.
Harmful substances were also detected in children’s hats and jumpers. In the children’s hats, pH levels ranging from 1.7 to 1.9 in different areas exceeded the standard, resulting in a determination of non-compliance. In children’s jumpers, lead was detected at approximately four times the domestic standard in the zipper area, and cadmium was detected at up to approximately eleven times, while phthalate plasticizers exceeded the standard by up to 537 times in various flexible parts on the outer surface of the clothing.
Lead can harm reproductive functions and increase the risk of cancer when exposed beyond safety standards. Particularly during pregnancy, it can affect brain development and cause learning and behavioral problems in children. Cadmium, a carcinogen that accumulates in bones, liver, and kidneys, can cause abnormalities in bones and problems in the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems.
Infant clothing products did not meet the physical testing requirement stipulating that the length of the shoulder strap should be 3 inches or less from the fixed point, resulting in non-compliance with domestic standards. Exceeding this standard could lead to cords or strings getting caught in gaps or obstacles, potentially causing dangerous accidents.
The city plans to expand the scope of safety inspections to include not only overseas platforms like AliExpress, Temu, and Shein, which have recently been intensively inspected but also other overseas platforms with a large number of domestic users. Furthermore, the inspection targets will be expanded to include household items such as hygiene products in addition to children’s products.
Especially this month, the city will conduct safety inspections on children’s products anticipated to see high purchase demand during the summer vacation season, such as children’s goggles, sunglasses, tubes, and swimsuits.
The safety inspection results are accessible at any time on the Seoul City Government website or the Seoul City E-commerce Center website. For consumer complaints or issues regarding overseas online platforms, you can reach out to the Seoul City E-commerce Center hotline, the 120 Dasan Call Center, or visit the E-commerce Center website.