About two out of every five children’s plastic watches sold in Taiwan contain an excessive amount of plasticizer that could pose a health risk, the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection’s (BSMI) latest investigation showed.
The bureau inspected 12 types of children’s watches sold at hypermarkets, toy stores and retail outlets across the country and found that five contained plasticizer at amounts exceeding the legal limits.
The bureau said product safety standards do not allow for plasticizer chemicals making up more than 0.1 percent of product mass, but the substandard plastic watches contained such chemicals in excess of this amount, with one Maxima brand watch containing 20.56 percent of plasticizers by mass.
Photo: CNA
The maker of the Maxima watch was also guilty of other product violations, including not having a proper product label indicating country of origin or the manufacturer’s name and address, and its product labels were not translated into Chinese.
A China-manufactured Casio watch also tested positive for plasticizer chemicals at 1.02 percent on its plastic watchstrap, despite costing NT$700.
BSMI deputy director-general Huang Lai-ho (黃來和) said watches that contain excessive amounts of plasticizers could be dangerous for children, who might put the plastic watchstraps in their mouth.
“Plasticizer chemicals could be absorbed through the skin when children wear the watch or enter the body if they put the watch in their mouths,” Huang said.
Plasticizers, or phthalate esters, contain environmental hormones that act as endocrine disruptors. The substances can potentially damage the liver and kidneys, cause men to develop female traits and increase the risk of breast cancer in women, the bureau said.
The bureau has ordered all substandard watches to be removed from store shelves and called for product improvements to be made, with fines of up to NT$200,000 for those who fail to comply.
It also urged parents to only buy watches that are properly labeled and teach children not to put plastic watches in their mouths.
PEAK MONTHS: Data showed that on average 25 to 27 typhoons formed in the Pacific and South China seas annually, with about four forming per month in July and October One of three tropical depressions in the Pacific strengthened into a typhoon yesterday afternoon, while two others are expected to become typhoons by today, Central Weather Administration (CWA) forecaster Lee Ming-hsiang (李名翔) said yesterday. The outer circulation of Tropical Depression No. 20, now Typhoon Mitag, has brought light rain to Hualien, Taitung and areas in the south, Lee said, adding that as of 2pm yesterday, Mitag was moving west-northwest at 16kph, but is not expected to directly affect Taiwan. It was possible that Tropical Depression No. 21 would become a typhoon as soon as last night, he said. It was moving in a
A Taiwanese academic yesterday said that Chinese Ambassador to Denmark Wang Xuefeng (王雪峰) disrespected Denmark and Japan when he earlier this year allegedly asked Japan’s embassy to make Taiwan’s representatives leave an event in Copenhagen. The Danish-language Berlingske on Sunday reported the incident in an article with the headline “The emperor’s birthday ended in drama in Copenhagen: More conflict may be on the way between Denmark and China.” It said that on Feb. 26, the Japanese embassy in Denmark held an event for Japanese Emperor Naruhito’s birthday, with about 200 guests in attendance, including representatives from Taiwan. After addressing the Japanese hosts, Wang
One of two tropical depressions that formed offshore this morning could turn into a moderate typhoon by the weekend, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said today. Tropical Depression No. 21 formed at 8am about 1,850km off the southeast coast, CWA forecaster Lee Meng-hsuan (李孟軒) said. It is expected to move in a northwesterly direction as it continues building momentum, possibly intensifying into Typhoon Mitag this weekend, she added. The radius of the storm is expected to reach almost 200km, she said. It is expected to approach southeast of Taiwan on Monday and pass through the Bashi Channel between Tuesday and Wednesday,
About nine Taiwanese are “disappeared,” detained, or otherwise deprived of freedom of movement in China each month, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said yesterday. Between Jan. 1 last year and Aug. 31 this year, 188 Taiwanese travelers went missing, were detained and interrogated, or had their personal freedom restricted, with some questioned in airports or hotel lobbies, the council said. In a statement ahead of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the council urged people visiting China for any reason to be highly vigilant and aware of the risks. Of the reported cases, 50 people were “disappeared” after entering China, 19 were detained and 119 had
RSS