Hong Kong consumer watchdog urges restrictions on levels of formamide in children’s play mats, warns of health risks
- Consumer Council finds a third of 20 foam play mats contain excessive amounts of formamide, over the 200mg/kg safe limit set by the European Union
- Prolonged exposure to the chemical could cause skin irritation, harm reproductive system, watchdog warns
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog has called for restrictions on the levels of formamide found in children’s play mats, warning that the substance can be harmful to them.
The Consumer Council examined 20 foam play mats available on the market, and found six of them contained formamide levels exceeding European Union standards.
One of the mats had nine times more formamide than the 200mg/kg safe limit set by the European Chemicals Agency.
Dr Lui Wing-cheong, vice-chairman of the Consumer Council’s research and testing committee, said on Wednesday that the chemical could enter the body through the skin and respiratory tract.
Lui also warned that prolonged exposure might cause skin irritation and harm the reproductive system and fetuses.
“When children play, crawl or roll on a play mat, not only would their skin come into contact with the mat, they may also breathe close to the mat or eat on it. As such, if the play mat material contains harmful substances, it may pose health risks,” he said.
Formamide is generally used as a foaming agent in the manufacturing process of various foam materials, including plastic toys.
Such foam play mats are commonly used to cushion children playing on the floor and come in a wide range of colours and styles.
While Hong Kong currently has no regulatory requirements on formamide content, the watchdog urged authorities to take reference from European Union standards, and the limits set by Shenzhen and Taiwan regulators, to cap the formamide content of children’s play mats to no more than 200mg/kg.
Most squeeze toys fail to meet safety standards: Hong Kong consumer watchdog
Lui also warned that the products had components coming off, increasing the risk of accidental swallowing and suffocation in young children, especially since the mats were used by those under the age of three.
The watchdog conducted torque and tension tests which found that six of the play mat models failed the European safety standards.
Council chief executive Gilly Wong Fung-han said parents should also clean and air dry the mats after each use.
“We would advise them to air out the play mats, because it will reduce the emission of formamide,” she said, adding that parents should also clean their children’s hands and feet after using the mats.
