The handles of 10 common suitcase brands contain potentially cancer-causing chemicals, with levels in four bags exceeding a leading safety standard, the Consumer Council warned yesterday.
Tests performed on 19 different bags by the consumer watchdog and International Consumer Research and Testing found that more than half had handles containing various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), identified as probable carcinogens.
The compounds, which are commonly found in plastics, rubber and lubricating oil, are suspected to cause cancer if inhaled, ingested or held in prolonged contact with the skin.
The council used as its benchmark the German GS Mark certification scheme, which holds that PAHs should not exceed 10 milligrams per kg in consumer products.
Four suitcases, including two American Tourister models, the Westlake Spinner and the Tokyo Chic, were found to have handles containing more than the recommended amount of PAHs.
The side handle of the Tokyo Chic case had 17,960 milligrams per kg, nearly 1,800 times the limit, while Samsonite's Cubelite suitcase contained 61.7 milligram per kg, six times the limit. The Westlake Spinner and Delsey's Lite Gloss model were just slightly above the threshold.