Anyone Can Buy If They Pay...Lax Management of Hazardous Chemicals

Sale Without Handling Precautions Explanation
Concerns Over Recurrence of Bottled Water Incident

Photo by Internet Community Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] "Sodium nitrite 500g, take it for X won."

On the 27th, when I visited a sodium nitrite sales store located in Jung-gu and expressed my intention to purchase, I immediately received a positive response. The seller then said, "Just pay X won," and handed over the substance. There was no verification of what the substance would be used for or who the buyer was. The transaction ended as soon as the money was received, and no explanation about precautions when handling the substance was given.

Besides this store, I visited two more places, but none explained the dangers of sodium nitrite. Some sellers did not ask why the buyer wanted it or who they were at all. Anyone can easily purchase this toxic substance as long as they pay. Among the four places visited, only the store in Jongno-gu verified the intended use and identity, and informed about the risks of sodium nitrite, precautions, and that misuse could lead to punishment.

Sodium nitrite is designated as a hazardous chemical. It is mainly used as a food additive for experimental purposes or as a coloring agent or preservative in processed meat products like ham, but if ingested beyond a certain amount, it can cause severe respiratory distress and, in extreme cases, death.

The current Chemical Substances Control Act stipulates that sellers must inform buyers of sodium nitrite to use it only for the specified purpose and to comply with handling standards. It also requires recording the buyer’s name and main usage in a management ledger. Violations can result in a fine of up to 3 million won. Additionally, in August, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety mandated warning labels on sodium nitrite used as a food additive to prevent safety accidents caused by direct ingestion.

The sale of hazardous substances without significant restrictions or warnings raises the risk of accidental incidents or criminal use. Last October, a toxic substance exceeding lethal levels was detected in a high school student who died after receiving a flu vaccine. Recently, in the so-called "bottled water incident" in Seocho-gu, Seoul, the suspect purchased poison online. Professor Lee Geon-su of the Department of Police Science at Baekseok University said, "If hazardous chemicals are misused for crimes, it can cause casualties. It is essential to thoroughly verify identities and intended uses, inform about risks and handling standards, and establish a system to manage such chemicals."