Illustration. [Yonhap]
Illustration. [Yonhap]

Hundreds of children's activity spaces — including daycare centers, kindergartens and elementary schools — have been found to exceed safety standards for heavy metals and phthalates, a chemical linked to disruptions in physical development.

Data obtained by Democratic Party lawmaker Eo Gi-gu of the National Assembly's Climate, Environment and Energy and Labor Committee from the Ministry of Climate, Environment and Energy and the Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute showed that 1,084 of the 2,509 children's activity spaces that underwent environmental safety inspections last year — 43.2 percent — exceeded the standards.

The environmental safety inspection program assesses whether children's activity spaces meet environmental safety management standards and encourages improvements where they fall short.

By facility type, community children's centers recorded the highest exceedance rate, with 415 of 587 facilities — 71 percent — failing to meet standards. Kindergartens followed at 68 percent (48 of 71), elementary schools at 66 percent (233 of 352) and daycare centers at 62 percent (311 of 505). Play facilities posted a far lower rate of 7 percent (71 of 982), while theme parks and entertainment venues came in at 50 percent (6 of 12).

Among the categories of violations — with some facilities counted in more than one — phthalates were the most common, flagged at 725 facilities. Heavy metals came next at 476, followed by air quality at 202.

Phthalates are chemicals used to soften plastics. Some components are classified as suspected endocrine disruptors, and prolonged overexposure may affect reproductive function and physical development, which is why they are designated as regulated substances in children's activity spaces.

Over the five years from 2021 through last year, a total of 6,922 children's activity spaces underwent environmental safety inspections, of which 2,730 — 39.4 percent — exceeded the standards.

The number of non-compliant facilities has risen steadily each year: 79 in 2021, 249 in 2022, 373 in 2023, 945 in 2024 and 1,084 last year.

"The fact that heavy metals and phthalates have been found to exceed standards in daycare centers, kindergartens and schools where children spend their daily lives is not something to take lightly," Eo said. "We need to closely analyze the causes and vulnerable areas by facility type, and follow through to verify that facilities found to be in violation have actually made improvements."


ko@heraldcorp.com