China-made clothes pose health risks : Greenpeace
CNA
December 18, 2013, 12:08 am TWN
TAIPEI--The environmental group Greenpeace yesterday warned consumers of “unpredictable health risks” associated with China made garments and footwear, saying that it had found dangerously high level of residues of harmful chemicals in children's wear made in China.
Of 85 items purchased in two manufacturing centers of children's clothing in China, more than half were found to contain overly high levels of Nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPE) and over 90 percent had residues of antimony, a poisonous chemical used to produce flame retardants, Greenpeace's office in Taipei said.
The two centers, Zhili in Zhejiang Province and Shishi in Fujian province, are China's major bases for the manufacture and export of children's clothing.
Greenpeace said its Beijing office had purchased samples of the products on shopping websites and at retail outlets between June and October this year to carry out tests.
Nearly half a million people in Taiwan regularly buy clothes and shoes on Chinese websites, according to Greenpeace Taiwan.
“The purchase of these products online or at retail outlets comes with unpredictable health risks,” it warned.
