Unscrupulous Chinese Businesses Make Toothbrushes from Toxic Chemical Waste for Hotels and Guesthouses

(CNA, Taipei, 9th) Many people who stay in hotels and guesthouses in China use the free disposable toothbrushes provided in their rooms, but the hygiene of these items is a serious concern. China's state-run CCTV recently disclosed that many toothbrush manufacturers, in order to cut costs, are using various types of unwashed and non-disinfected used and recycled plastics to make disposable toothbrushes.

The report stated that at a small, squalid waste recycling station in Jiangdu District, Yangzhou City, Jiangsu, piles of white barrels that once contained chemical agents, old panels from home appliances, electric fan covers, and even broken roller skates were found. A significant portion of these items are specifically used as raw materials for making toothbrushes.

A worker frankly admitted that chemical barrels that had contained detergents and urea are sent directly for crushing and processing without any cleaning, despite being contaminated with various toxic residues. To cover up their dirty appearance, processing plants simply add pigments to dye them, packaging these toxic wastes as "qualified raw materials."

In addition to the waste station, a large quantity of unsealed but randomly scattered masks, non-woven fabrics, melt-blown fabrics, and scraps from protective clothing were also seen in the backyard of a private residence in Jiangdu District. The person in charge claimed that the main component of these materials is polypropylene, the same plastic used for toothbrush handles, and that recycling them into "recycled material" pellets is more profitable.

The report added that various plastic sheets, black garbage bags, plastic ropes, and other trash were also at the scene, also serving as raw materials for disposable toothbrushes.

In another "recycled material" processing plant, the raw material for producing toothbrush handles turned out to be scrap material left over from a shoe factory that makes slippers. This waste material is melted at high temperatures, condensed in a water trough, and then cut into small white plastic pellets. The owner claimed that his goods are "in short supply" on the market.

A person in charge of a toothbrush factory said that most of these low-priced recycled plastic pellets come from small workshops without proper licenses. The manufacturers also admitted that purchasing recycled materials is a matter of luck, and that poor-quality materials frequently cause quality issues.

The report also mentioned that at the Yufeng International Hotel Supplies City in Zhengzhou, Henan, most wholesalers are selling toothbrushes made from "recycled materials." These are mainly supplied to small hotels and guesthouses, and their quality is a major concern.

Quoting experts, the report stated that the health risks of disposable toothbrushes made from such "recycled materials" come not only from the raw materials themselves but also from the complex composition of repeatedly recycled plastics. New toxic and harmful substances are generated during the high-temperature melting process. Since toothbrushes come into direct contact with the mouth during use, long-term use poses multiple hidden health risks. (Edited by: Chou Hui-ying / Chen Kai-yu) 1150609