Seoul City Inspects 176 Overseas Direct Purchase Products
Harmful Substances Found in Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings
Sales Suspension Requested... Blocking Consumer Access
Lead was detected in bracelets sold on overseas direct purchase online platforms at levels exceeding the domestic standard by up to 900 times. Lead is classified as a possible human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and long-term exposure to small amounts can cause systemic toxicity such as neurodevelopmental toxicity and hypertension.
On the 8th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that out of 176 products tested from AliExpress, Temu, and SHEIN, a total of 15 products, including 8 jewelry items and 7 cosmetics, were found to contain harmful substances greatly exceeding domestic standards.
The total 176 tested products included 8 hygiene products, 87 cosmetics, 51 food containers, and 30 jewelry items sold on AliExpress, Temu, and SHEIN. The inspection was conducted over about one month from October 5 to November 1 by the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment and three external specialized institutions (Korea Conformity Laboratories, FITI Testing & Research Institute, and KATRI Testing & Research Institute).
Test results showed that 8 jewelry products including bracelets, earrings, and necklaces contained harmful substances greatly exceeding domestic standards. Bracelets contained lead (Pb) at 8.145%, exceeding the domestic standard (0.009% or less) by up to 905 times. Earrings contained cadmium (Cd) at 47.4%, exceeding the domestic standard (less than 0.1%) by up to 474 times, and necklaces contained nickel (Ni) at 1.9 μg/cm²/week, exceeding the domestic standard (0.5 μg/cm²/week or less) by up to 3.8 times.
For cosmetics, two highlighter products purchased from AliExpress contained phthalates (DEHP) at 1,487 μg/g, exceeding the domestic standard (100 μg/g) by up to 14.9 times. Three lip balms contained cadmium at 57 μg/g, exceeding the domestic standard (5 μg/g) by 11.4 times. Phthalates are endocrine-disrupting substances that affect reproductive functions such as reduced sperm count, infertility, and premature birth. Cadmium is classified as a human carcinogen (Group 1) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer under the World Health Organization (WHO) and typically accumulates in the body through respiratory and digestive tracts.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to request related agencies such as the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and overseas online platform companies to suspend sales of the 15 products that exceeded or did not meet domestic standards, thereby blocking access to these products. Kim Tae-hee, Director of the Seoul Citizen Health Bureau, stated, "Jewelry and cosmetic products sold through overseas direct purchase platforms are inexpensive but have repeatedly been found to contain harmful substances in safety inspections. We ask citizens to continue to pay close attention and purchase only products whose safety has been confirmed."
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