Beijing: The discovery of cancer-causing textile dyes in clothing manufactured by some of the popular Chinese brands has set off alarm bells in the country.
Cancer-causing toxic dyes were detected in some garments tested by the authorities, spreading concern that some buyers may be exposed to health dangers, a report in the state-run Global Times said on Saturday.
The municipal bureau of industry and commerce published its quality test results on Wednesday, revealing 65 batches of clothing, including famous domestic brands Jeanswest and Baoxinlai, failed to meet quality standards.
Two styles of coats produced by the Beijing-based Baoxinlai Garment Company were found to contain decomposable aromatic amine, a cancer-causing textile dye that was banned by the authorities in 2006.
The poisonous dye cannot be washed out of fabric and is easily absorbed by human skin, which can cause cancer over long-term exposure, the report said.
The clothing manufactured by the company is sold in supermarkets and shopping malls both home and abroad, with annual sales of 50 million (USD 7.3 million) to 100 million yuan (USD 14.7 million), according to the company's website.
Instead of giving customers advice on what to do with the unqualified clothing, a female employee of the company refused to comment on the test results, the report said.
"Don't bother me any more! I am tired of you reporters and I will not tell you anything!" she told the Global Times.
One style of men's shorts made by Jeanswest, a brand marketed by Hong Kong-based Glorious Sun Enterprises, was also declared unqualified because the textile colour may fade after washing.
A female employee from the service department of the company said that consumers who bought the unqualified shorts could return them to local chain stores with invoices to claim full refunds.
A few other brands were found to contain excessive formaldehyde, which is harmful to human skin.
The notice said the municipal bureau of industry and commerce would force the manufacturers to withdraw the unqualified clothes from stores.
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