Authorities in Seoul have revealed that women’s accessories sold by popular online shopping companies contain toxic substances, some of which exceed acceptable levels by hundreds of times.
Leading Chinese platforms such as Shein, Temu, and AliExpress have gained immense global popularity by offering a wide range of fashionable clothing and accessories at incredibly low prices, challenging giants like Amazon.
This rapid growth has raised concerns about their business practices and safety standards, prompting scrutiny in regions like the European Union and South Korea, where officials are conducting regular inspections of items sold online.
In a recent inspection, 144 products from Shein, AliExpress, and Temu were tested, revealing that many products did not meet legal standards.
For example, shoes from Shein were found to have high levels of phthalates, which are chemicals that make plastics more flexible, with one pair exceeding the legal limit by 229 times.
An official from Seoul’s environmental health team warned of the reproductive health risks posed by phthalates and the importance of avoiding long-term exposure to such chemicals.
Formaldehyde was found in Shein’s caps at double the allowable threshold, while nail polish from the same company contained dioxane and methanol concentrations above permitted levels.
– Lead in sandals –
Insoles of sandals from Temu were found to contain lead levels more than 11 times the permissible limit, prompting the company to conduct an internal investigation and remove the products from sale.
Seoul officials have called for the removal of all non-compliant products from the market, emphasizing the importance of consumer safety.
The European Union has also taken action by including Shein in a list of digital firms subject to stricter safety regulations, particularly aimed at protecting customers from harmful products, especially those that could endanger minors.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has pledged to continue conducting periodic safety tests and making the results public.
hs/ceb/dan
