Using old floor mats poses a risk of exposure to phthalate plasticizers
Phthalates exceeding the standard were detected in 8 of the 14 products surveyed
Recently, a growing number of consumers have been using indoor floor mats to reduce inter-floor noise and to prevent falls among children and the elderly.
However, when the Korea Consumer Agency (President Jang Deok-jin) conducted a safety investigation of 14 floor mat products that had been used in daycare centers for more than a year, phthalate plasticizers were detected in some floor mats whose surface coating had worn off, indicating that consumers need to exercise caution.
In tests for hazardous substances on aging floor mats, phthalate plasticizers ranging from a minimum of 0.2% to a maximum of 0.7% were detected in 8 of the 14 products surveyed (57.1%). Phthalate plasticizers are a type of endocrine-disrupting environmental hormone that can adversely affect reproductive function, including reduced sperm count in men and infertility and premature birth in women.
The detected amounts of phthalate plasticizers exceed the safety standard for phthalate plasticizers under the Special Act on the Safety of Children's Products (a combined total of 0.1% or less). According to the Common Safety Standards for Children's Products under the Special Act on the Safety of Children's Products, the total content of the six types of phthalates (DEHP, DBP, BBP, DINP, DIDP, DnOP) contained in children's products must be 0.1% or less.
An analysis of the detection rate and detected amounts of phthalate plasticizers by period of use found that 1 of the 6 products purchased within the past three years (2019–2020), and 7 of the 8 products used for more than three years (purchased before 2019), exceeded the permissible level of the safety standard (a combined total of 0.1%).
Given that floor mats are typically used for a long time once installed, their surfaces become worn through cleaning and other use as time passes, which can increase the risk of leaching of the phthalate plasticizers contained in the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) foam inside the product.
For floor mats used over long periods or installed in frequently used areas, it is advisable to use eco-friendly products made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), a material to which non-phthalate plasticizers have been added or which has low toxicity. In addition, thorough safety management is needed, such as replacing aging floor mats with new products.
Based on these findings, the Korea Consumer Agency advised consumers to replace floor mats whose surfaces have deteriorated due to prolonged use, and, in particular, recommended using eco-friendly floor mats in children's play areas to ensure children's safety.