The city government announced Thursday that, of 25 products inspected, including tubes, goggles and swimsuits, seven items failed to meet domestic safety standards.
The safety levels were tested through the Korea Apparel Testing & Research Institute (KATRI) and the FITI Testing & Research Institute, Lee Jong-geun, a city official, said.
Three children's tubes sold on these platforms did not meet domestic standards regarding phthalate plasticizers, heavy metals and physical requirements.
Two of the tubes showed DEHP (Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthlate) levels that were 290 times and 219 times above the standard, respectively. The air inlet of the third tube contained cadmium at a concentration 1.44 times higher than the standard.
Phthalate plasticizers are endocrine disruptors that can affect reproductive functions, such as reducing sperm count and causing infertility. DEHP, in particular, is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Cadmium is a carcinogenic substance that accumulates in the liver and kidneys and can cause issues in the respiratory and nervous systems.
In physical tests, all three products were found to have tube bodies thinner than the standard.
The air inlet of a children’s beach ball sold on Shein was found to contain DEHP and DINP (Diisononyl phthalate) at levels exceeding the standard by 100 times. The body of the beach ball contained DEHP at levels up to 148 times the standard, with lead and cadmium exceeding the standards by 9 times and 2.72 times, respectively.
Exposure to lead above safety standards can harm reproductive functions and increase the risk of cancer.
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