The Excessive Formaldehyde In Children'S Clothing Should Not Be Ignored

 　　 The provincial quality supervision bureau reported that 19 batches produced by 14 enterprises failed to pass the provincial spot check on children's clothing in the first quarter of this year, many of which exceeded the standard of formaldehyde. Quality supervision experts said that excessive formaldehyde could easily cause respiratory diseases and skin diseases, and even cancer in serious cases.

Yesterday, the reporter investigated some street children's clothing stores in our city, and no children's clothing was marked with formaldehyde content. Some interviewed consumers do not know that formaldehyde will be used in children's clothing, let alone how harmful it is.  
  
   　 Special spot check

14 enterprises' products are unqualified

Yesterday, the Sichuan Provincial Bureau of Quality Supervision released the results of the special spot check of children's clothing products in the first quarter of this year. A total of 50 batches of products were spot checked, and 19 batches of products produced by 14 enterprises had formaldehyde, pH, fiber content, color fastness and other items that did not meet the product standards. The relevant person in charge of the provincial quality supervision bureau said that formaldehyde is a toxic substance, and clothing enterprises must use it according to strict standards. If the content of formaldehyde exceeds the standard, children will cough and breathe quickly when exposed to it. Children with allergic constitution will also have severe symptoms such as asthma, and even cancer in serious cases.

   Journalist investigation

  Formaldehyde content label missing

Yesterday afternoon, the reporter investigated the children's clothing sold in some roadside children's clothing stores and large supermarkets in our city, and it was difficult to see clearly marked formaldehyde content. Six of the ten consumers interviewed did not know that children's clothes contained formaldehyde, nor did they know how harmful children's clothes with excessive formaldehyde would be to children's bodies.

In a children's clothing store on Shuangqiao Road, the reporter saw that most of the children's clothes sold here are colorful in appearance, with a variety of cartoon patterns. The reporter picked up a short sleeved shirt worn by children under three years old and smelled it. There was obviously a pungent smell of formaldehyde. The reporter looked at the label on the children's clothing, and saw that the label had no indication of formaldehyde content, except that the label had the appropriate stage for children to wear and the percentage of cotton contained.

"The clothes are so colorful and have a pungent smell. Does it contain formaldehyde?" The reporter asked the salesperson in the store. "I don't think so. All the clothes we sell here are pure cotton clothes." The salesperson answered after looking for a long time but didn't find any formaldehyde label. On the labels of children's clothing materials in 4 children's clothing stores and some large supermarkets in Jianshe Road and Wannianchang, the reporter did not see the labels of formaldehyde content.

The reporter interviewed 10 consumers who were shopping for children's clothing at random. Six of them said that they were not sure whether the children's clothing fabric contained formaldehyde. Two people heard that it contained formaldehyde but did not know how to identify it. Another two people did not believe that there would be formaldehyde in the clothing. In a women's and baby store on Shuangqiao Road, the consumer, Ms. Chen, was surprised and asked: "Formaldehyde is only found in decoration materials. What are baby clothes used for?"

Expert explanation

Why do clothes add formaldehyde?  

The expert from the provincial quality supervision bureau in charge of clothing fiber detection said that because of the strong anti-corrosion ability of formaldehyde, the clothing must use formaldehyde in the process of resin finishing. Pure cotton textiles are easy to wrinkle, and the use of additives containing formaldehyde can improve the stiffness of cotton cloth. The larger the pattern on the garment, the more formaldehyde is needed. Although formaldehyde is a toxic raw material, it can be bought in the market at a low price, so it will become the preferred raw material for small manufacturers and illegal traders.

 　 How is the national standard stipulated?  

The National Technical Code for Basic Safety of Textile Products clearly stipulates that in addition to the words "baby products", infant clothing should be marked with formaldehyde content if formaldehyde is used. Formaldehyde content of Class A infant clothing shall be ≤ 20mg/kg, that of Class B children clothing in direct contact with skin shall be ≤ 75mg/kg, and that of Class C children clothing in indirect contact with skin shall be ≤ 300mg/kg.

How to choose clothes for children?  

Quality supervision experts advise parents not to buy wrinkle resistant clothes for their children, and try to choose children's clothes with small patterns, and the prints on the patterns should not be very hard, and try not to buy bleached children's clothes. Consumers can smell whether there is a pungent smell similar to that in the furniture mall on children's clothing. However, due to the large area of plastic packaging and business premises, the odor is sometimes difficult to be identified, so it needs to be carefully identified at home. In addition, formaldehyde is easily soluble in water. After buying new clothes, it is best to rinse them with clean water and then dry them for more than three days. Don't rush to put them on children