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Staff Reporter
Look before you wipe, warn consumer-rights advocates, who say there is more to toilet rolls than just pulp.
Fluorescent whitening agents, banned in a variety of paper products due to the risk of skin reactions, were found in the toilet paper products sold at some of the country's major discount outlets, Consumers Korea said Sunday.
Also called optical brighteners, fluorescent whitening agents are dyes that absorb ultraviolet light and emit it back as visible blue light, thus producing a whitening effect in fabric and paper.
Since the brighteners are linked to allergic reactions and irritations when in contact with skin, the law strictly prevents their use in napkins, hand wipes and diapers.
However, there are no such regulations about using the agents in tissues and toilet paper, which critics say is a problem.
Consumers Korea last month conducted tests on seven different types of toilet paper, six tissues, four napkins, six hand wipes, five sanitary napkins and eight diapers.
Fluorescent whitening agents were found in four toilet paper products ― the own-brand (OB) products of discount chains E-Mart, Lotte Mart and Home Plus, and Ssangyong C&B's Cody Premium toilet rolls.
Critics say that the excessive use of the dyes could be related to the quality of the products, with the paper manufacturers looking to overcompensate for their use of cheap and low-quality recycled materials.
The PB products sold at discount outlets, which range from food to everyday items, are gaining increasing popularity for their cheap prices. However, cheapness is not to be confused with value as these products have frequently been exposed for substandard quality, particularly in food and drinks. The recent report on toilet rolls suggests that it could be the same story for paper products.
``There is no regulation regarding the use of fluorescent whitening agents in tissues and toilet paper,'' said an official from Consumers Korea.
``Although they are used differently than napkins and hand wipes, toilet rolls are used widely in a lot of ways, so there should be stronger safety standards. Some restaurants still put toilet rolls on the tables instead of napkins, and this should be stopped as well.''
Fluorescent whitening agents are widely used by companies making laundry detergents, but their effects could be deceiving, as they don't contribute in any way to making the clothes cleaner or brighter in color, although the eyes may suggest otherwise.
And aside of the health concerns, the chemicals are also known for their toxic effect on the environment as they are harmful to fish and other animals, and don't easily decompose once they are put into the ground or water.
화장실용 화장지에서 형광증백제 검출
소비자들은 두루마리 화장지를 쓸 때 주의 해야 할 것이다. 소비자시민모임은 다수의 할인매장에서 팔리는 화장실용 화장지에서 형광증백제가 검출되었다고 밝혔다. 형광증백제는 피부질환 등을 일으킬 수 있어 다수의 종이제품에서 사용이 금지되어있다.
형광증백제는 자외선의 외부영역을 흡수해 종이나 옷감이 푸르고 희게 보이도록 하는 물질로, 피부접촉 시 알레르기 반응이나 질환을 일으킬 수 있어 냅킨, 물티슈, 일회용 기저귀 등의 제품에서 사용이 금지되어 있다. 그러나 소비자단체들은 화장지의 경우 형광증백제 관련 규정이 없다는 점을 문제 삼고 있다.
지난달 소비자시민모임은 화장지 7개 제품, 미용용 화장지 6개, 냅킨 4개, 물티슈 6개, 생리대 5개, 일회용 기저귀 8개 등에 대한 형광증백제 검출 시험을 하였다.
그 결과 대형마트의 독자개발 브랜드(PB) 상품인 이마트 3겹 파워쿠션 화장지(이마트), 와이즐렉 세이브 알뜰 화장지(롯데마트), 홈플러스 알뜰상품 화장지(홈플러스) 등 3개 제품과 코디프리미엄 3겹(쌍용C&B) 등에서 형광증백제가 검출되었다.
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