Some children's headsets were found to contain phthalate-based plasticizers, endocrine-disrupting substances that can cause liver damage, exceeding the allowable limits.
The Korea Consumer Agency announced on the 3rd that, after investigating the safety of 13 children's headset products sold online, three products were found to have phthalate-based plasticizer contents exceeding the relevant standards.
The investigation revealed that three products?Eduplayer children's headset, K-One Logistics' Doraemon headphones, and Dawa's Hello Kitty headset?had phthalate-based plasticizers DEHP and DINP detected at 0.3% to 17.2%, exceeding the standard limit (total 0.1% or less) in parts such as the connecting jack and headband. These three businesses stated that they would recall the products from distribution channels, stop sales, and offer refunds and exchanges.
Some products also exceeded the European environmental standard for hazardous substances restriction directive (RoHS) limits. Referring to the EU environmental standard RoHS for four phthalate plasticizers and lead and cadmium content, all products showed lead content below the standard, and cadmium was not detected. However, the Doraemon headphones and Hello Kitty headset exceeded the standard for DEHP content, a phthalate plasticizer, with levels ranging from 0.75% to 15.82%.
Out of the 13 products, nine omitted mandatory labeling such as the KC mark, manufacturing date, and recommended age for use, which are required for children's products. Notably, two of these nine products did not display any of the mandatory labeling items.
Based on this investigation, the Consumer Agency plans to recommend voluntary improvements to the relevant businesses for non-compliant products and notify related authorities of the findings.
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