[Exclusive] 'Class 1 carcinogen' at drinking water fountains in schools and parks... The Public Procurement Service is 'shush'

<Anchor>

Drinking fountains are installed in schools and parks.

Children also use it a lot when they are thirsty, but it was confirmed as a result of SBS coverage that one of the drinking fountain products was recently found to contain hexavalent chromium and lead, including first-class carcinogens, exceeding the standard.

However, it turned out that the Public Procurement Service, which conducted the inspection, did not even notify the school or public institution that received the drinking fountain in question.

Let's take a look at reporter Kang Min-woo's exclusive report and talk about it.

<Reporter>

A children's park in Seoul.

There are many children who use drinking fountains.

[Children: (Friends, do you use (mining fountain) a lot?)) Yes!

I use it when I drink water and I use it when I get water here (in the water bottle).

You can eat it, this.]

The same product is located in the playground of an elementary school and in the Hangang Park, which is frequented by citizens.

However, this drinking fountain product was judged as a 'fatal defect' in the quality inspection of the Public Procurement Service last August.

As a result of testing by the Public Procurement Service commissioned by the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, hexavalent chromium was found to be about five times higher than the standard of the Waterworks Act enforcement ordinance, and about seven times higher than the standard for nickel, and lead was detected above the standard.

Hexavalent chromium and nickel are class 1 carcinogens classified by the World Health Organization.

[Hong Yun-cheol/Professor of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine: The fact that substances that affect cognitive function in children, such as lead, came out in drinking water is an important issue for us.]

In the past 4 years, this product has been delivered to 29 places, and if you include other negative water related products from the manufacturer, there are 273 places.

However, the only action taken by the Public Procurement Service was a three-month suspension of trading with the manufacturer.

It has been two months since the detection of the carcinogen was confirmed, but the school or institution to which it was delivered has not been notified of the detection.

[OO Elementary School official: I haven't heard anything from the agency or the Public Procurement Service.]

[Hangang Business Headquarters official: (Contact) Of course...

.

If we do not respond, that is our negligence.]

There is another problem.

Among the parts of the drinking fountain, the most likely cause of heavy metal detection is a metal faucet or socket, and these parts were delivered rather than manufactured by the manufacturer.

[The drinking fountain manufacturer official: (It must have been used a lot? It's the same for other companies.) It's commonly used in the case of sockets.]

Exactly from which part the carcinogen was leaked, and it was confirmed that the part was not used in other company's products. It is essential.

Nevertheless, the Public Procurement Service did not determine the exact cause or conduct additional product investigations.

[Jin Seon-mi / Democratic Party member: I think this is a bit of a neglect of duty.

I think it's something the state shouldn't do.

If there is a problem, it seems too natural that the entire model needs to be investigated.]

(Video coverage: Jeon Gyeong-bae, Yang Doo-won, video editing: Ha Seong-won)

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<Anchor>

Let's talk a little more with reporter Kang Min-woo, who covered this issue.

[Reporter Min-Woo Kang: There are about 14 drinking fountain manufacturers across the country that are delivered through the Public Procurement Service.

Among them, the Public Procurement Service requested a quality investigation for one company's product.]

[Reporter Minwoo Kang: We started the coverage with that part in mind.

The Public Procurement Service did not initially notify the school or public institution that the carcinogen was detected because there were no related regulations.

However, once the SBS coverage began, I admit that the measures were insufficient, and I will inform the relevant institutions and schools of the relevant facts even tomorrow.

This is how it has been revealed.

In addition, he said that he would investigate which part of the company's product was the problem, and if there was a problem with that part, whether it was used by other companies as well.

And again, based on the investigation, I will replace all the drinking fountains with problems, and it has been revealed.]

[Reporter Kang Min-woo: The Public Procurement Service supplies necessary goods to public institutions. Among them, safety or hygiene-related products, such as drinking fountains and water purifiers, are designated as 'safety management materials' and quality inspection is carried out with an annual plan.

The purpose is good.

However, this time, the problem that the Public Procurement Service does not actively take action has been revealed even when problems are revealed.

In 2020, lead was detected above the standard in rocking equipment such as horses and seesaws used by children in school yards and playgrounds.

This was also classified as a fatal defect, and there was no notification to the school, etc.

The Public Procurement Service explained that it was because there were no regulations, but it seems that comprehensive measures at the government level are needed, rather than taking action after every incident like this.]

(Video Edit: Park Jeong-sam)