Children's garments made in two of China's largest manufacturing bases contain toxic chemicals that pose health risks, a new report claims.
Research by environmental campaign group Greenpeace says tests by independent laboratories on 85 children's garments - made in either Zhili Town in Zhejiang Province or Shishi City in Fujian Province - detected the hormone disrupter NPE in more than half of them.
seNine in ten items made of polyester tested positive for antimony, and phthalates - which are known for their toxicity to the reproductive system - were found in high concentrations on two samples. The products were bought by Greenpeace staff between June and October of this year.
Garments from the two centres are sold to both domestic and international markets, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.
"Children's clothing made in the two towns we investigated is sold to 98% of Chinese cities and many other countries, through traditional and the increasingly popular e-commerce platforms," said Lee Chih An, toxics campaigner for Greenpeace East Asia.
Greenpeace is now calling on the Chinese government to ban the use of these chemicals in children's wear and to begin eliminating their use.
"Our investigation is sending a serious signal of caution to the parents of more than two hundred million Chinese children and their foreign counterparts," An added.
The children's clothing industry is a CNY1trn (US$165bn) business with a projected 30% annual growth, making it one of the fastest growing economic sectors in China.
Together the two children's wear manufacturing towns investigated by Greenpeace East Asia produce about 40% of all the children's clothing items made in China.
The growth of the children's wear industry has "far out-run" the development of China's chemicals regulation system, An noted. "A national safety standard for hazardous chemicals inn kid's wear has sat in policy makers' drawers for six years now, and we still have no idea when it will be promulgated."
"With a new baby born in China every other second, the country cannot afford to take any chances on the crucial issue of children's health. Only by establishing a comprehensive and rigorous chemical management policy can China really safeguard its children."
セラフ子供服
Research by environmental campaign group Greenpeace says tests by independent laboratories on 85 children's garments - made in either Zhili Town in Zhejiang Province or Shishi City in Fujian Province - detected the hormone disrupter NPE in more than half of them.
seNine in ten items made of polyester tested positive for antimony, and phthalates - which are known for their toxicity to the reproductive system - were found in high concentrations on two samples. The products were bought by Greenpeace staff between June and October of this year.
Garments from the two centres are sold to both domestic and international markets, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.
"Children's clothing made in the two towns we investigated is sold to 98% of Chinese cities and many other countries, through traditional and the increasingly popular e-commerce platforms," said Lee Chih An, toxics campaigner for Greenpeace East Asia.
Greenpeace is now calling on the Chinese government to ban the use of these chemicals in children's wear and to begin eliminating their use.
"Our investigation is sending a serious signal of caution to the parents of more than two hundred million Chinese children and their foreign counterparts," An added.
The children's clothing industry is a CNY1trn (US$165bn) business with a projected 30% annual growth, making it one of the fastest growing economic sectors in China.
Together the two children's wear manufacturing towns investigated by Greenpeace East Asia produce about 40% of all the children's clothing items made in China.
The growth of the children's wear industry has "far out-run" the development of China's chemicals regulation system, An noted. "A national safety standard for hazardous chemicals inn kid's wear has sat in policy makers' drawers for six years now, and we still have no idea when it will be promulgated."
"With a new baby born in China every other second, the country cannot afford to take any chances on the crucial issue of children's health. Only by establishing a comprehensive and rigorous chemical management policy can China really safeguard its children."
セラフ子供服
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