Radon-emission widespread among consumer products

By Lee Suh-yoon

“Better blood circulation, anti-aging effect, antibacterial.”

These are just some of the health benefits claimed for “negative ion-releasing” products. The products have recently faced public scrutiny after mattresses produced by a local company were found to emit levels of the radioactive gas radon nine times over the safety standard.

There are some 180,000 products claiming health benefits from the release of “negative ions” registered at the patent office, according to civic group Korea Radiation Watch.

The claimed health benefits, however, are dubious. And most of these consumer goods include radioactive minerals like monazite sand to produce negative ions. The accumulation of radon, released by monazite, can lead to lung cancer.

Last year, the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission investigated 102 consumer products that were advertised as producing beneficial negative ions. The report claimed the yearly exposure from each product was below the safety standard. But with the recent revelations over Daijin Bed mattresses, civic groups have called for further investigations.

The safety commission has not released the name of the brands but the products found to contain monazite include “health” bracelets (and necklaces), laundry balls, soap, face sheet masks, underwear, air freshener, wallpaper, golf gloves, eye masks and pillows.