Korea to Ban Monazite in Consumer Products

Production and imports of consumer products containing monazite, a radioactive mineral that emits radon, will be banned from the second half of next year.

The Nuclear Safety and Security Commission announced the decision on Thursday. It aims to prevent the use of all radon-emitting materials in products that come in contact with the body, regardless whether they exceed permissible radioactivity or not.

Monazite is used in products like mattresses, clothes, bracelets, necklaces, pillows and sanitary pads. At present, products using radioactive materials which do not exceed the dose limit of 1 mSv per year can be manufactured and sold here.

The NSSC will also ban false advertising of products releasing negative ions, which are generated by monazite, as being good for health. It will also tighten rules for companies that use monazite in industrial products. Manufacturers and importers of industrial goods containing monazite will have to register with the government and be regularly inspected to ensure they meet safety standards.

The NSSC plans to provide a service to measure radiation levels of products from overseas. If consumers ask to measure the levels of radon in products they bought overseas, an expert will visit them. Domestic products are not eligible for the service as they can be checked by their producers directly.

It will employ 1,000 more people and 2,000 measuring devices early next month.