WARNING! This Cancer-Causing School Uniforms Flooding Markets

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has blown a whistle about some cancer-causing substances found in imported school uniform materials.

According to a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Director-General of SON, Mr Osita Aboloma revealed that the China-based companies producing the materials are Sing Shun Fat School-Clothier Company and Zenith Uniform Company.

Aboloma further revealed that the amounts of the dye contained in the materials being 173 milligrams and 41 milligrams per kilogram of the tested samples respectively were on the high side as compared to the standard quantity.

“Use of the 4-amino azo dyes have been banned in Europe, Japan and other parts of the world prior to the finding.

“Azo dyes could release carcinogenic substances known as aromatic amines when they mix with sweat, which accounted for the ban on the use of the dye in many countries of the world.”

However, importers of school uniform materials in Nigeria have been urged to undergo a proper conformity assessment of these fabrics before purchase, through the SON off-shore Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP), to avoid bringing them into the country.