Clothing purchased from Shein for scientific testing has been found to contain “significant quantities” of potentially dangerous chemicals.  

The investigation found that one pair of shoes contained 428 times the permitted levels of phthalates – the highest observed during the Seoul government tests – and three bags had amounts as high as 153 times the limit. 

Phthalate is a chemical compound used in the production of plastics that is thought to be hazardous to human health. The city has urged the Chinese e-commerce platform to stop selling the products.

According to Channel News Asia, Shein responded with a statement saying it takes product safety “very seriously” and that the firm has undertaken 400,000 chemical safety tests of products within the past year.