Colored Masks Could Contain Carcinogens 彩色口罩恐含致癌"偶氮色料" 1/4起抽驗
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The Economic Affairs Ministry is carrying out random inspections of colored face masks starting January 4 to check if the products contain toxic substances. It is estimated that 70 different brands will be inspected and the results will be announced in two weeks.
Face masks have become a necessity since the COVID-19 pandemic began and they have become more and more colorful and diversified. However, health authorities are embarking on a mass inspection of medical masks in Taiwan to determine whether they contain illegal azo dyes, which can be toxic and carcinogenic. Taiwan's Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection will begin random inspections of colored face masks from physical stores and online shops on the 4th to check if the products contain toxic substances. It is estimated that 70 different brands will be inspected by January 14.
Face masks have become a necessity since the COVID-19 pandemic began and they have become more and more colorful and diversified. However, health authorities are embarking on a mass inspection of medical masks in Taiwan to determine whether they contain illegal azo dyes, which can be toxic and carcinogenic. Taiwan's Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection will begin random inspections of colored face masks from physical stores and online shops on the 4th to check if the products contain toxic substances. It is estimated that 70 different brands will be inspected by January 14.
According to the Consumer Protection Law, if the business operators manufacture, sell or import goods that are harmful to consumers' health, then the Bureau will require them to pull the goods off the shelves, recycle and make improvements. If the operators does not carry out the above actions by a designated date, then we will issue fines starting from NT$60,000 and up to NT$1.5 million. We will announce the results of the inspection in two weeks.
Azo dyes are common dyes which are often used in textiles, plastic products and leather goods. But some components of the azo dyes do release aromatic amine, which is carcinogenic. Taiwan currently bans the use of 22 azo colorants on all textile products as they have been proved to increase the risk of developing bladder cancer in past animal experiments.
We could have touched the colored part when we are using the face masks. We could ingest the dye when we eat without washing our hands first. We could sweat or spit when we are wearing the mask, and the moistures could allow the azo dyes to penetrate the mask and we could ingest the harmful substances.
The FDA pointed out that 22 azo colorants are not allowed to be present in textiles according to the national standard, and therefore medical face masks should have zero tolerance for these harmful substances as well. The Administration is planning to include dyes inspection in the factory audit checklist. Medical-grade face masks found to contain toxic substances will be destroyed and the manufacturer will be fined up to NT$2 million based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.
防疫期間口罩成為必備物品，各大通路販賣的口罩花樣、顏色也越來越多元，但要小心如果買到不合格的口罩，上頭的''偶氮色料''恐有致癌疑慮。經濟部標檢局從4號起，將針對口罩實體通路、店面、網路平台啟動有色口罩的抽驗，預計1月14號前會完成抽驗70種廠牌。
經濟部標準檢驗局組長 賴俊杰表示：「依照消保法，如果企業經營者，有製造、販售、輸入，致消費者生命身體健康，財產安全的危害，我們會要求他做下架、回收、改正。如果說，逾期，他不去做下架、回收、改正，我們會依照消保法，處以6萬元以上，150萬元以下的罰鍰。我們大概兩個禮拜內，會將這個檢測結果，來作公布。」
所謂的「偶氮色料」是一種常見染料，廣泛使用在紡織品、塑膠、皮革上，但其中有部分偶氮色料會釋出致癌物「芳香胺」。過去在動物實驗中，被證實會增加罹患膀胱癌的風險，目前國內已禁用22種偶氮色料在各式紡織品上。
林口長庚臨床毒物中心主任 顏宗海表示：「我們在使用當中，我的手會碰觸到一些，口罩有顏色的地方。萬一沒有洗手，拿東西吃，就把它吃下肚了。我們在戴口罩的時候，有時候，我們會有一些唾液、流汗，也可能那個偶氮色素，會不會滲透，讓我們吃到？」
而食藥署也說，根據標檢局國家標準，有22種偶氮色料不可用在紡織品，醫用口罩當然也不能驗出，未來擬將色料納入常規查廠項目，若醫用口罩檢出違規使用禁用的偶氮色料，也可依藥事法處最高200萬元罰鍰。
