Endocrine disrupters are “man-made environmental hormones” which can adversely affect sexual development and induce breast cancer.

Results of a survey of 20 brand name household laundry detergents found in the market, conducted by the Consumers’ Foundation (CF), showed that 15 percent contain nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEO).

According the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, under the authority of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, NPEO compounds break down into a group of toxic and persistent byproducts, such as nonylphenol (NP).

They are confirmed as endocrine disrupters, which have been banned in Taiwan since January 1, 2008, as well as in Japan and the European Union, because they constitute a hazard to human and environmental safety.

The Environmental Protection Administration set a ceiling concentration of 0.1 percent for NP chemicals, but the three detergents brought under attack, named Namchow, Banero, and, Taimiao, had concentrations levels reaching 0.6 percent, 1.6 percent and 0.2 percent respectively.

Contacted by the China Post, a spokesperson for Namchow Chemical Industrial Company expressed his surprise at the results of the study, as he stressed that the company uses “natural compounds” in its detergent products.

The other two manufacturers nabbed in the report — Taichung-based Lung Liang Enterprise and Chunan-based Tuo Pu Ju Yi Company — declined to make any comments on the issue.

The factories producing detergent containing the environmentally unfriendly compound can face fines of between NT$1 million and NT$5 million; they were urged to immediately recall the products from market and cease further production.

Subscribe to The China Post and save.  Click hereSharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Enter your comments - 800 characters max

Receive China Post promos

Respond to this email