The government of the South Korean capital, Seoul, found that children's products sold on Shein, the Chinese fast fashion e-commerce giant, contained toxic chemicals called Phthalates, in quantities hundreds of times higher than acceptable levels.

One pair of shoes contained 428 times the permitted level of phthalates, the highest level observed so far in Seoul's inspections, and three bags contained 153 times the limit, the city government said.

Phthalates are widely used to soften plastic and are found in thousands of products including containers, beauty products and toys. However, they have been known for decades to cause hormonal disorders and have been linked to obesity, heart disease, some cancers and fertility problems.

Seoul city official Park Sang-jin told Agence France-Presse (AFP) they had requested the removal of these products from sale, and said that since the city began inspections in April, most platforms have complied with such requests.

Last month, the European Union added Shein to its list of digital firms that are big enough to come under stricter safety rules, including measures to protect customers from unsafe products, especially those that could be harmful to minors.

Courtesy image AFP