Daegu Confused by 'Toxic Filter' in Cotton Masks... City Education Office Orders "Immediate Suspension" of Use

Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education Distributes 1 Million Mask Filters to Schools
Civic Groups Including People's Solidarity Report "High Levels of DMF Detected by Official Testing"
Toxic Substance Controversy in Filters... Manufacturer Claims "N

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 23rd, the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education urgently notified the suspension of use for 300,000 cloth masks (1,000,000 filters) distributed to frontline schools. In addition, regarding the controversy over harmfulness, they began collecting the masks delivered to each household through text messages and home correspondence.

This measure by the Office of Education follows recent claims and reports that harmful solvents were detected in the replaceable filters.

According to the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education and Daegu Participation Solidarity, the Office of Education received 1.2 billion KRW from Daegu City and distributed 300,000 cloth masks and 1,000,000 replaceable nano-filters to 801 locations including local elementary, middle, high schools, and kindergartens from April 2 to 29. Subsequently, reports emerged that 'Dimethylformamide' (DMF), a harmful substance, was detected in the nano-filters of the distributed masks.

Collecting these reports, Daegu Participation Solidarity, Daegu City Council member Kim Dong-sik (Democratic Party), and Daegu Legislative Participation Center held a joint press conference on the 23rd in the second-floor conference room of the City Council, revealing, "On the 18th, a citizen reported that 'an accredited institution measured and found about 40 ppm of DMF, a harmful substance, in the mask's nano-filter.'"

DMF is a synthetic fiber spinning solvent used as an organic solvent in the production process of nano-filters and is essential for making very fine fibers. All nano fibers contain this substance. However, DMF is known as a toxic substance that irritates the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes and can cause liver abnormalities if inhaled for a long time.

The replaceable nano-filter cloth masks involved in the harmfulness controversy were developed by Daitec Research Institute, a specialized research institute for fiber dyeing and processing industries. The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education purchased these cloth masks and provided them to students in April when mask shortages occurred due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Regarding criticisms that the masks were not approved by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Daitec Research Institute responded, "Replaceable mask filters are not items requiring MFDS approval," adding, "We confirmed the presence of harmful substances in the filters through the internationally accredited FITI Testing & Research Institute and repeatedly presented evidence through separate cytotoxicity tests and skin irritation tests that the nano-filters are harmless to humans."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party Daegu City Party issued a statement on the same day, urging, "The suspicions regarding the harmfulness controversy of the masks must be clearly investigated, and if there are problems, those responsible should be punished," and "It is necessary to check whether there are any health issues for children who have already received and worn the masks and take appropriate measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.