Consumer Agency: Formaldehyde Detected in Some Wet Sports Towel Products

9 out of 12 Products Sold in Online Shopping Malls
"Standards for Harmful Substances and Labeling Must Be Established"

Formaldehyde, a harmful substance to the human body, was detected in some wet sports towels sold on online shopping malls.

On the 22nd, the Korea Consumer Agency announced that formaldehyde was detected in 9 out of 12 wet sports towel products sold on online shopping malls after testing them. The tested products included wet towels from the brands Nike Swim, Renoma Swimwear, Sharin, Switch Off, Semi, Arena, iBest, Aqua Bear, Elle Swimwear, Yonex, Carnic Sports, and Aeguaegu.

As a result of testing the formaldehyde content before and after rinsing, formaldehyde was detected at levels ranging from 22.7 mg/kg to 83.4 mg/kg before rinsing. After rinsing, the formaldehyde content decreased to between non-detectable and 32.0 mg/kg. The Consumer Agency advised that rinsing wet sports towels before use can reduce exposure to formaldehyde.

In the color change test, products from Sharin and Semi showed relatively excellent water fastness, rated at levels 4 to 5. Considering the usage environment of sports towels mainly used in swimming pools, the degree of color change caused by chlorine-treated water was tested, and the Semi product showed relatively excellent chlorine water fastness, rated at levels 4 to 5.

The amount of water absorbed relative to the dry weight was 7.6 times for three products?Renoma Swimwear, Sharin, and Semi?indicating relatively high water absorption. Measuring the length and width to calculate the area showed a range from a minimum of 2,560 cm² to a maximum of 3,010 cm². The material of all products was found to be polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) on the outer surface and polyester (PET) for the inner core.

In the investigation of product and online mall labeling, 8 of the tested products had detected formaldehyde but used phrases such as "no harmful substances detected," or had issues such as missing manufacturing dates and incorrect material labeling, indicating a need for improvement. The prices of the tested products ranged from 4,900 KRW to 35,000 KRW, showing up to a sevenfold difference between products. The Switch Off product was the cheapest at 4,900 KRW, while the Arena product was the most expensive at 35,000 KRW.

Based on the test results, the Consumer Agency plans to recommend to relevant authorities the establishment of safety requirements for harmful substances and labeling standards for wet sports towels, which come into close contact with the skin around the eyes, nose, and mouth during use. A representative from the Consumer Agency stated, "We will continue to provide safety and quality information on various daily necessities to support consumers' rational consumption in the future."

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