Toxic Secrets in Imported Kids’ Products: A Hidden Danger in Your Child’s Playtime
Children’s Products from Overseas Contain Hazardous Substances: A Growing Concern
As the number of consumers purchasing children’s products from overseas increases, cases of hazardous substances being imported into the country are on the rise, requiring consumers to be more vigilant.
The Korea Consumer Agency (Director Yoon Soo-hyun) conducted an investigation into the safety of 27 children’s products purchased through overseas purchasing agents on domestic online platforms. The results revealed that some products contained harmful substances such as humidifier disinfectant ingredients (CMIT, MIT), phthalate plasticizers, and heavy metals (cadmium, lead).
The investigation found that hazardous substances exceeding safety standards were detected in 10 out of 27 products (37.0%) investigated. According to the “Special Act on Children’s Product Safety,” children’s products purchased overseas must comply with common safety standards for children’s products and safety standards for each item.
Three electric toys, including remote-controlled cars, exceeded the standards for phthalate plasticizers and lead by 51 to 79 times and 7 to 11 times, respectively. One water toy, including a tube, exceeded the standards for phthalate plasticizers by 194 times and one product exceeded the standards for phthalate plasticizers and cadmium by 269 times and 3 times, respectively.
Four liquid toys, including soap bubbles and finger paint, were found to contain MIT (methylisothiazolinone) and CMIT (methylchloroisothiazolinone), which are banned as preservatives, and one product exceeded the standards for phthalate plasticizers and lead by 79 and 10 times, respectively.
MIT (Methylisothiazolinone) can be harmful by inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption, possibly causing skin burns and eye damage. CMIT (Chloromethylisothiazolinone) can cause allergic skin reactions and may irritate the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract.
Phthalate plasticizers can cause reproductive toxicity such as decreased sperm count, infertility, and premature birth, as well as liver toxicity. Cadmium is a carcinogen that can cause severe wounds and inflammation in the prostate, urinary tract, and lungs in case of acute poisoning, and can cause respiratory disease, emphysema, renal failure, and diabetes in case of chronic poisoning.
Lead (Pb) is a carcinogen that can cause reduced intellectual development in children, loss of appetite, anemia, and muscle weakness. The Korea Consumer Agency recommended that purchasing agents selling products containing hazardous substances stop selling them, and the business in question blocked distribution by deleting its sales page.
Consumers are advised to check the safety certification number when purchasing children’s products through a purchasing agent and to confirm whether the product has received safety certification from the Product Safety Information Center operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Precautions for Consumers
- Check the safety certification number when purchasing children’s products through a purchasing agent.
- Confirm whether the product has received safety certification from the Product Safety Information Center operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
- Avoid purchasing products containing hazardous substances such as MIT, CMIT, phthalate plasticizers, and heavy metals (cadmium, lead).