"4 out of 68 Disposable Mask Products Exceed pH Standards... Potential to Cause Dermatitis"

Asia Economy DB=Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bo-kyung] Among 68 disposable mask products sold on the market, 4 products exceeded the pH standard, prompting the government to recommend recalls and sales bans.

The National Institute of Technology and Standards announced on the 3rd the results of a safety investigation conducted from June 23 to July 17 on 68 disposable mask products, whose demand has increased due to the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

The investigation targeted 43 adult disposable masks under the "Electrical Appliances and Household Goods Safety Control Act" and 25 children's disposable masks under the "Special Act on Safety of Children's Products." KF health masks and droplet-blocking masks were excluded.

The test items included the detection or violation of harmful substances such as formaldehyde, arylamine, nonylphenol, as well as pH concentration and labeling requirements.

The safety investigation found no harmful substances in all 68 products. However, 4 products exceeded the pH standard range (4.0?7.5), leading to recommendations for recall and sales bans, and improvement recommendations were made for products violating labeling requirements.

A high pH (hydrogen ion concentration) can cause allergic contact dermatitis and other issues.

An official from the National Institute of Technology and Standards stated, "We will continue to strengthen monitoring of illegal and substandard disposable mask products for general use," and added, "We plan to continuously conduct safety investigations to ensure the safety of the public."

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