Harmful substances found in 13 primary school shoe models
發佈日期: 2025-08-14 20:43
TVB News
The Consumer Council tested 28 pairs of shoes for primary school students and found that nearly half of them contain harmful substances, and the worst cases could cause skin ulcers.
With only around half a month till the new school year starts, many parents are buying new shoes for their children.
The Consumer Council tested 28 pairs of shoes for primary students, priced between 198 to 599 dollars, and discovered that 13 of them contained harmful substances, including formaldehyde and aromatic amine.
Two pairs were found to contain chromium VI, which could cause lung cancer, with levels of 4.5mg and 5mg - exceeding the EU limit of 3mg per kilogramme.
While children may wear socks, prolonged contact could still lead to rashes and dermatitis.
Kenneth Chan, Vice-chairman of the Committee on Sustainability, Public Affairs and Education said, "Chromium VI is typically formed through oxidation of chromium III compounds used in leather tanning, as it can cause cancer in the lungs, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified it as a Group 1 "carcinogenic to humans" agent. Using leather containing chromium VI could cause rashes, ulcers, and allergic reactions resulting in contact dermatitis."
The other two pairs were found to contain reproductive-toxic phthalates, such as DEHP and DBP, in their inner soles and insoles, exceeding EU safety limits.
These chemicals may harm sexual function and development, with one pair containing 86 times the EU limit.
The council noted that while phthalates are not easily absorbed through the skin, risks increase if a child has wounds or eczema.
Parents are advised to teach their children to wash their hands after handling shoes to avoid indirect ingestion through contact with food and their mouths.
Shoes with harmful substances may not be the only thing that parents are concerned about. Shoe sizes is another common issue.
The Consumer Council does not recommend that children wear shoes that are one size too big, the maximum extra space at the toe should be around 0.5 to one centimetre, which is roughly the width of a finger.
