Toxic shoes!

[Dave A]

I know there is a growing awareness of the quality of our food. Maybe we need to pay attention to what is going into other items too - like clothing.

High levels of toxic chemicals have been found in the shoes of well-known South African retailers, raising concern about the health hazards contained in these "throwaway items" the world over.

In a study released last week, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) found high levels of a toxic chemical known as diethyl-hexyl phthalate (DEHP) in 17 out of 27 pairs of shoes manufactured in various countries including India, Indonesia, Tanzania, The Philippines, Sweden and South Africa.

The chemical can cause cancer, severe damage to a developing foetus and the central nervous system.

--and--

The inner sole of the Pep shoe tested positive for DEHP as well as cadmium and chromium, while all four pairs of shoes contained lead.
full story from Business Report here

[Marq]

And you thought the metal in your shoe was just the toe cap part.

Cadmium has also been linked to chicken growing and infertility problems for Rainbow, from the feed and this too has been shown to be carcinogenic.

What is going on with all these toxic substances showing up in our everyday world?

[duncan drennan]

What is going on with all these toxic substances showing up in our everyday world?

A lot of these are electronic waste related materials. The new(ish) EU reduction of hazardous substances (RoHS) directive has eliminated or reduced these materials in electronic products (in place since 2006).

I'm still not too sure how it ends up in all these various products though

[Dave A]

I'm still not too sure how it ends up in all these various products though

I suspect it's something to do with cost at the end of the day

[Marq]

Maybe it has always been there and its just that they are able to test and do csi type stuff now, that it is being picked up and noticed.

[ftolosana]

Hi Dave,

I emailed Pep and Woolworths about this and after a couple
of weeks they decided their shoes are not dangerous...

I have also emailed the Swedish website about it.

F

[Dave A]

Hi Ftolosana and welcome to TFSA.

My purpose in making the post here was not so much to be critical of Woolworths or Pep, (or any other store). I did it to raise awareness that product hazard analysis and management should probably go beyond the obvious areas of hazardous materials and foodstuffs. I mean, who would expect a toxic substances problem with shoes?

Of course, if you are suggesting that Woolworths and Pep are ignoring the findings as opposed to dealing with it - well, that is a story.