Finger paint from many different brands sold in South Korea have been found to contain toxins, according to a study by the Korea Consumer Agency.

Out of twenty brands tested, half showed toxic levels of preservatives, acidity and microorganisms. The study utilized safety standards for children‘s toys that are scheduled to go into effect on Feb. 1 next year.

Six brands were found to have unacceptably high levels of chloromethylisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, commonly referred to as CMIT and MIT respectively, which are used as preservatives. One brand showed 34.8 times the acceptable level of benzisothiazolinone, another preservative.

Six brands showed unacceptably high pH levels between 9.4 and 9.7, above the acceptable range of 4 to 9, while one brand had 680 times the acceptable amount of dangerous microorganisms.

These toxins can lead to various symptoms in children such as dermatitis and digestive problems when absorbed into the body.

A larger issue is that it is difficult to regulate these products because finger paints, while officially categorized as toys, are often registered as regular watercolors, which are subject to different safety standards.

“Watercolors are used with tools such as brushes and have less contact with the skin, and their safety regulations exclude items such as pH and preservatives. When used as finger paint, it is difficult to guarantee their safety,” the KCA said through a release.

Of the twenty brands tested, 10 were registered with regulatory organizations as regular watercolors. Just one out of the twenty followed labeling regulations that require toys to indicate information such as the date of manufacture and the preservatives used.

Consumers immediately responded to the study, as CMIT and MIT were two of the toxins that were found in the humidifier sanitizers previously sold by Reckitt Benckiser that were linked to over a hundred deaths. The results were quickly shared through blogs and online communities frequented by parents of small children.

“I let my kids play with finger paint all the time, but I’ve thrown all of it out of the house,” said Kim Min-jeong, who has four-year-old twins. 

“I‘m getting tired of seeing study after study that belatedly warn about the potential dangers of products for children. The government has to crack down on companies selling kids’ products and make sure that they‘re following safety regulations.”

By Won Ho-jung (hjwon@heraldcorp.com)