Seoul: Toxic substances found in Shein children’s shoes

The city government of Seoul has found toxic substances 428 times above the permitted levels in children’s products in some shoes for children brand e-commerce China Shein after carrying out an inspection.

The announcement was made by officials in the South Korean capital on Tuesday, after the city began publishing these figures last month as Chinese online retailers become some of the most popular choices among the country’s shoppers for their low prices. prices.

Of the eight Shein children’s products that have been analyzed, including shoes and bags, the city found toxic substances in seven of them, with levels of formaldehyde and plasticizers far higher than permitted.

Of the two pairs of children’s shoes, one contained formaldehyde that exceeded the permissible level by 1.8 times, while the other contained phthalate plasticizers that exceeded the permissible limit by 428 times.

According to a study by the European Commission, the main concern with this type of substances is that they dissolve in fluids or can come into contact with the skin and there is particular concern about their effects on the reproductive, hormonal and immune systems, as well as its carcinogenic potential or its impact on changes in behavior.

Since early April, Seoul has been conducting such security tests on products from Chinese e-commerce giants such as AliExpress, Shein and Temu.

Of the 93 products examined so far, it was found that around 40% of them, or the 43% Of the total, they contained toxic substances. The South Korean capital has asked these Chinese platforms to stop the sale of the products in question and limit their access to the public.

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