Study: Shein clothing items exceed the limits of chemical substances allowed in the European Union

A study conducted by the Institute for Environment in Bremen, commissioned by Deutsche Umwelthilfe, revealed that some clothing items sold on the Shein platform are contaminated with chemicals, exceeding the limits set by the European Union.

Out of the 18 items tested, 7 violated these limits. In response, Shein announced that it will withdraw the affected products from its global offer and will conduct a review of similar products.

This problem is not isolated; other low-cost platforms like Temu have also been sanctioned for similar irregularities. Tests identified a variety of chemicals, including heavy metals and PFAS, some of which had alarming exceedances. For example, a children's jacket exceeded the PFAS limit by over 1,100 times.

PFAS are known for their harmful effects on health, and exposure to them can affect metabolism and the immune system.