Seoul finds harmful substances in 7 children's products

Seoul officials have raised concerns over seven children's products marketed for ages 14 and older, after finding excessive levels of harmful substances during testing. The Seoul Metropolitan Government revealed that its tests detected high concentrations of phthalate plasticizers, cadmium, and other potentially dangerous materials in sensory toys, stickers, and keycap key rings sold through both overseas online platforms and domestic stationery stores.

These items, which were not subjected to mandatory certification due to their intended age range, were compared against standards set for products aimed at children aged 8 and older.

Three out of five sensory toys showed phthalate plasticizer levels up to 164.2 times the established children's product standard, while packaging of one product contained phthalates at 142.7 times the limit and cadmium at 1.5 times the permissible level. Additionally, two products exceeded reference limits during tests assessing the potential for substances to leach from the items, with formaldehyde levels reaching 2.3 times the limit and methanol at 1.3 times the limit.