▲ Distribution of Cautionary Signs for Tactile Products
As products like "wax-bu-ball" (clay toys coated with wax) gain popularity among children, caution is required as harmful substances have been detected in some products whose recommended age has been raised to 14 and older.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced today (the 31st) that after conducting safety tests on 20 products, such as wax-bu-balls with a recommended age of 14 and older sold on the market, harmful substances exceeding children's product safety standards were detected in 7 of them.
The city tested products labeled for ages 14 and older that are highly likely to be actually used by children by applying the safety standards for children aged 8 and older.
The tested items included 13 tactile products like wax-bu-balls, 3 party supplies such as balloons, 2 keychains, 1 sticker, and 1 acrylic marker.
The test results showed that harmful substances or physical safety hazards were identified in 7 products, including 5 tactile products, 1 sticker, and 1 keycap keychain.
First, phthalate plasticizers, which can cause endocrine disruption, were detected on the surfaces and decorations of 3 tactile products at levels up to 164.2 times the children's product standards.
Phthalate plasticizers were also found in packaging materials such as zipper bags at 142.7 times the standard limit, while cadmium, a carcinogenic substance, was detected at 1.5 times the standard level.
In dissolution tests, which simulated children putting products in their mouths to check if harmful substances leach out, 2 products exceeded standard limits for formaldehyde, methanol, and boron.
Formaldehyde can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and skin, while methanol can induce headaches and dizziness, and high-concentration exposure can affect the nervous system and other areas.
Excessive exposure to boron can affect reproductive functions.
In addition, chloromethylisothiazolinone (CMIT) and methylisothiazolinone (MIT), preservative ingredients that can cause skin irritation, were detected in 1 product.
In 1 sticker product, phthalate plasticizers and cadmium were detected on the adhesive backing at levels 176 times and 5 times the children's product safety standards, respectively.
For 1 keycap keychain product, a small battery separated from the product during tensile testing.
The city explained that since children swallowing a battery can lead to accidents, children's toys require measures to prevent easy access to batteries.
The results of this safety test can be found on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website (seoul.go.kr).
Based on these findings, the city has requested online platforms to halt the sales of products purchased from overseas online platforms that exceeded the standards compared to children's product safety standards.
Additionally, the city distributed school newsletters to elementary schools within its jurisdiction to prevent children from mistakenly purchasing products labeled for ages 14 and older as children's products.
Informational materials were also distributed, and banners were posted at sites including the Changsin-dong toy street in Jongno-gu.
Meanwhile, the city plans to conduct safety tests in September on children's school supplies and school bags sold on overseas online platforms.
(Photo courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)
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