WDR flip flops mostly contaminated with chemicals

Popular summer shoes often contain toxic solvents and heavy metals

07/03/2014

Flip-flops are the ideal summer shoe for many people, especially on vacation, because they are light, fast-fitting, waterproof and can be easily stowed away in any baggage. But since flip-flops are made of plastic, they may contain hazardous substances harmful. This is confirmed by a recent test of the „WDR“, according to which solvents, heavy metals and hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could be detected in many models.

Westdeutscher Rundfunk has 12 models examined for harmful substances
Summer time, flip-flops time. For many people, the colorful, airy toe separators are just part of the warm season. Not without reason, because flip-flops are lightweight and waterproof, making them a practical companion on the beach compared to other shoes. But unfortunately there is another side to the coin: Because the shoes are made of plastic, there is obviously the danger that there is direct skin contact with harmful pollutants. In any case, this is the result of a recent test by Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), which will be broadcast on Thursday at 18:05 in the business magazine Profit (WDR 5).

So far, no limit values ​​for PAH
For the test, the station had twelve flip-flop models from all price ranges examined in the laboratory. The frightening result: According to authors of the program were "in at least two models solvents (acetophenone) can be detected in ten pairs of heavy metals and in six pairs of health-endangering PAHs", where a model here, according to the WDR was relatively heavily loaded. But for "the dangerous hydrocarbons in plastic products, there were no limits yet," only from the end of 2015 will apply according to the broadcaster within the EU, a limit of 1 mg / kg for particularly carcinogenic PAHs. According to critical health experts, the threshold is too high, instead they would require a maximum value of 0.2 mg / kg.

Children's sandals from KiK are particularly heavily loaded
Particularly worrying was the result for the flip-flops of the brand „Disney Pixar“ from motives of the children's series "Cars" especially the youngest and by the testers at Germany's largest textile discount chain „KiK“ had been bought. In these, the experts had found 4.6 mg / kg polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which shoes were well above the recommended limit of 0.2. However, according to WDR KiK responded promptly and announced to take the shoes due to the high load from the trade.

Experts also find lead and chromium in questionable amounts
But not only harmful substances were detected in the plastic shoes, but also heavy metals. In four models, the experts had found relatively high levels of lead and chromium, such as in the „Flip flops palm trees“ from the dm drugstore (lead: 8.2 mg / kg, chromium: 1.6 mg / kg) or the „Flip flops V sandal“ from Rossman (12.0 mg / kg, 1.3 mg / kg). Although these metals can not be absorbed directly through the skin, they are a high environmental burden from the moment they are disposed of.

Manufacturers invoke missing legal limits
According to the WDR, the reactions of the manufacturers to the test results differed, all of which would have been invoked, „that there are no legal limits and therefore their shoes are in order“. Nevertheless, some providers would have announced further investigations or even - as in the case of KiK - the cessation of sales of contaminated children's sandals. „The production of our shoe ranges is regularly monitored by TÜV Rheinland (...). For the solvents found (...) there are no statutory limits (...). Nevertheless, we will also check with our supplier whether we can achieve a reduction“, such as the statement of Rossmann. (Ag)