Amid the growing popularity of items such as "wakppuball" (clay toys coated with wax) among children, caution is required as harmful substances have been detected in products with recommended ages raised to 14 and older.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced today (the 31st) that after conducting safety tests on 20 products, including wakppuball labeled for ages 14 and older currently 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 such as wakppuball, 3 party goods like balloons, 2 keychains, 1 sticker, and 1 acrylic marker.

The test results confirmed harmful substances or physical safety hazards 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 or decorations of 3 tactile products at levels up to 164.2 times the children's product standard.

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 simulating children putting products in their mouths to check if harmful substances leach out, 2 products exceeded standard values for formaldehyde, methanol, and boron.

Formaldehyde can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and skin, while methanol can induce headaches and dizziness, and exposure to high concentrations can affect the nervous system.

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 were detected on the adhesive backing at 176 times the children's product standard value, and cadmium at 5 times the standard level.

For 1 keycap keychain product, a small battery became detached from the product during tensile testing.

Since children swallowing a battery can lead to accidents, the city explained that 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 suspend the sales of products purchased from overseas online platforms that exceeded children's product safety standards.

In addition, the city has instructed elementary schools within its jurisdiction to distribute home notice letters to prevent children from mistakenly purchasing products labeled for ages 14 and older as children's products.

Notice materials have also been distributed and banners have been posted in areas such as the Changsin-dong toy street in Jongno-gu.

Meanwhile, the city plans to conduct safety tests in September on children's school supplies and schoolbags sold on overseas online platforms.
 
(Photo provided by Seoul Metropolitan Government, Yonhap News)