Latest threat from China: Toxic clothes?

[Guest guest]

Latest threat from China: Toxic clothes?

_http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=17694 & t=1 & c=1_

(http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=17694 & t=1 & c=1)

 

thisislondon.co.uk[Wednesday, August 22, 2007 15:08]

 

Here's a good reason to wash new clothes before putting them on infants and

children: _A New Zealand television station is reporting that _

(http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4170006a6005.html)

_http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4170006a6005.html_

(http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/4170006a6005.html) " scientists

found formaldehyde in woollen and cotton clothes at 500 times higher than is

safe. "

 

London, August 22: Cheap clothes made in China have been found to contain

high levels of a potentially dangerous chemical.

 

UK trading standards are on alert after Chinese-made clothes in New Zealand

were discovered to have up to 900 times the safe level of formaldehyde in

them

 

Formaldehyde is used to protect clothes that have to be shipped great

distances against mildew.

 

However, long-term exposure to high levels can be harmful, causing problems

ranging from minor skin rashes to some types of cancer.

 

Tests discovered formaldehyde concentrations up to 900 times above the

safety limit in children's and adults' woollen and cotton clothes from China.

 

The latest safety alert over cheap Chinese goods was sounded in New

Zealand. It has been passed on to trading standards officials in Britain.

 

" Any consumer worried about harm caused by clothes they have bought should

contact the retailer or report their concerns to trading standards, " a

spokesman for the Government's new department for business, enterprise and

regulatory reform said.

 

Formaldehyde resins have been used on fabrics for decades to make

wrinkle-free and stain-resistant-garments. The chemical can be used, for

example, to

keep the crease in trousers.

 

The types of materials most likely to have been treated are blended cotton,

wrinkle-resistant cotton, shrink-proof wool, rayon and synthetic blends.

 

Bryan Lewin, chairman of the Trading Standards Institute, said: " We would

expect trading standards departments here to carry out tests to establish

formaldehyde levels.

 

" At the same time, there is a general-requirement on importers,

manufacturers and retailers to ensure that the consumer products they are

selling are

safe. "

 

A spokesman for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in New Zealand said it is

investigating the nature and size of the problem there.

 

The details will reignite concerns over the safety of cheap merchandise

imported into Britain from China. Imports have soared 500 per cent in ten years

to £20billion a year.

 

Last week, the toy giant Mattel was forced to recall millions of

Chinese-made toys in the UK and around the world.

 

There were safety fears over small magnets used in some and about paint

containing high levels of toxic lead in others.

 

Other recent problems have involved toxic pet food, toothpaste laced with an

ingredient used in anti-freeze and car tyres that were allegedly missing a

key safety feature.

 

The ongoing rows over the quality of Chinese goods threatens a diplomatic

row between East and West.

 

The Chinese authorities insist the recalls and complaints are motivated by

trade protectionism rather than safety.

 

This has been rejected by EU trade commissioner Peter Mandelson as " totally

false " .