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  • 2002.09.16

Council tests and compares quality and hygiene of 58 sanitary napkins

The Consumer Council has conducted a massive comparative test on the vast majority of sanitary napkins available in the market - a total of 58 models under 12 brand names.

The test focused on the quality and hygiene condition of this product, offering comprehensive and valuable guidance for the reference of the users.

All samples, without any exception, passed the absorbency test in flying colours - ranging in absorption ratio from 15 to 44 times the weight of the samples. The standard requires 8 times only.

Highest in absorbency was scored by pads for night use averaging 232 g of water per pad while the day pads took the least with only 163 g per pad. Normal menstrual flow ranges from 30 to 180 ml.

Despite the high absorbency of the products, consumers are advised to change the sanitary napkins as often as is needed for personal hygiene reasons.

The samples were also examined for their pH value - too high or too low a pH value could cause skin irritation. All samples were found to be within the range suitable to the human skin.

On the hygiene condition of sanitary napkins, no residues of worms or insects were detected in view of previous allegations on such incidence.

Nonetheless, tiny spots or discolorations were found on some of the sample pads. The manufacturers have assured that they are usually burned pulp, wood fiber or glue and are harmless to the users.

Further, holes were discovered on some of the packs and individual wraps of the samples. Various reasons have been put forward by their manufacturers: they are punched purposely to release the air in order to keep the packs compact; they may be present originally on the raw packing material or due to incomplete sealing; they may occur during transportation or display.

In view of the presence of holes on some sanitary napkin packs or wraps, consumers are advised to store unused pads with due care in a tightly closed box or bag to ward off insects or ants commonly found in households.

Listed in the test report, for the reference of consumers, are some of the latest product features in sanitary napkins: such as cottony/porous surface pressed lines, wings, central absorbency zone, one-stepper wrapper removals, etc. Whether a product feature is of any added value to the consumer depends largely on individual preference and needs. 

Survey reveals variations in medical insurance for travellers to China

Don't leave home without it. This may sound like the cliche of a credit card service provider.

But medical insurance providers have borrowed the concept to promote their service to frequent travellers to mainland China.

In a survey, the Consumer Council has studied and compared a dozen such medical insurance plans for the reference of consumers.

This is how it works. The insured is provided with an Accidental Emergency Medical Insurance Card. And he or she needs simply to produce the card to gain admission to any one of the hundreds of designated hospitals or clinics in the mainland.

The card guarantees that the insurer will undertake to pay the admission deposit to the hospital. In the past, Hong Kong travellers have been refused admission because they were unable to pay the required hospital deposit in an emergency.

The Council's survey has revealed considerable variations among these medical insurance plans:

First and foremost, half (6) of these plans were restricted to only medical expenses arising out of accidents in China while the remainders (6) covered both sickness and accidental injury.

Consumers should therefore consider carefully whether or not they want to limit the coverage to solely accident-related injuries.

Second, the list of hospitals and clinics designated by the insurers which the insured can choose from, varied from 100 to 4,000 all over the mainland.

Consumers will do well to consider the number and distribution of the designated hospitals, and the quality standard and adequacy of medical facilities as well.

Third, depending on the coverage, the premium on an annual basis ranged from $350 to $600 (for accidents only) and from $488 to $1,272 (for both sickness and accidents). The premium is generally lower for non-manual workmen as compared to manual workers.

Fourth, with one exception, all the insurance plans in the survey will not cover the medical expenses and/or emergency evacuation if the insured stay in the mainland for periods in excess of 60 or up to 100 days per trip as stipulated in individual plans.

Lastly, again all but one of the plans include "Emergency Medical Evacuation" with the maximum protection ranging from $600,000 to "unlimited" or the actual amount of reimbursement. So do consider if you wish to have 24-hour emergency assistance service under "Emergency Medical Evacuation".

Call on parents to use safety car seats for child protection

Parents are urged to protect their children with safety car seats.

The number of children injured in traffic crashes while travelling as passengers in a vehicle has brought home the urgency of the matter.

According to statistics of the Transport Department, in the first 6 months of this year alone, 414 child passengers aged 11 years and under were injured in traffic accidents. Of these, 128 were travelling in private cars.

If parents used appropriate child restraint systems in their cars, the injuries to children could be effectively reduced or even prevented during a crash.

The Consumer Council made this appeal to parents in a test, in conjunction with the International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT), to assess the safety and ease of use of child safety car seats.

In the course of a market survey, the Council found few models of child car seats for toddlers and bigger children and few retail outlets available in the market. This could be due to the low level of consumer awareness and use of this safety car product.

In the test, the Council focused on car seats that can be used for bigger children of body weight up to 36 kg (79 lb). An earlier test which the Council published last year, focused on car seats for babies and small toddlers.

It is recommended that proper child restraint systems should be used in the rear seat on every trip for children of body weight under 36 kg and height under 1.45 m (4'9"), or roughly up to the age of 11 years.

Some studies indicated that use of adult seat belts by small children might cause injury in an accident. However, the studies also pointed out that children are less at risk of injury if they are wearing an adult belt as opposed to no belt at all. Use of appropriate child restraint systems in conjunction with the ordinary seat belt provides more effective protection and reduce the risk of possible belt-induced injury during a crash.

The test covered 13 models of car seats available in Hong Kong. All the seats tested are ECE44-03 approved, meeting the European safety standard and regulation.

Besides a frontal test as required by the ECE standard, the Council's test included also a side impact test. Further, the frontal test was more demanding and realistic than the current European standard as the car seat was fitted in a real car body instead of a test sled used by the ECE standard during the test.

The results indicated that none of the seats on test scored top rating in either the frontal or side impact tests. Clearly there is ample room for improvement.

But remember even the worst-performing seats in the test are better than not using a car seat at all. It is important always to carry each child passenger in a properly fitted car seat.

When choosing a car seat, the body weight of the child is the main criterion, age is just an indication usually.

Child Safety Car Seat

Council investigates concern over allergic reactions to temporary tattoos

You could be exposed to formaldehyde from new wooden bookcases. But do you realise you could also get into close skin contact with this chemical through temporary tattoos?

There have been media reports of allergic reactions to temporary tattoos. To investigate such concern, the Consumer Council has selected 4 commonly available brands of temporary tattoos, comprising 1 crystal tattoo and 3 paper tattoos, for laboratory testing.

The potential hazards of temporary tattoos lie in the presence of formaldehyde and heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium used as colour pigment ingredients.

Direct contact with formaldehyde solution can cause irritation while exposure to the chemical over prolonged periods may lead to hypersensitivity whereby people may suffer severe reaction upon subsequent exposure even at very low levels. Heavy metal pigments may irritate the skin causing redness and blisters.

The results of the test are, however, reassuring and temporary tattoo enthusiasts can heave a sigh of relief. All samples on test were found to conform with international safety requirements on both soluble heavy metals and formaldehyde contents.

Notwithstanding the findings, consumers are urged to heed the following:

  • If redness or allergic reaction occurs, cease using it and consult a doctor immediately.
  • Do not apply temporary tattoos to sensitive skin; they are not recommended for infants and small children.
  • Do not apply tattoos of the crystal/jewelry type near the eyes, ears, mouth or nose.

Council exposes common deceptive email traps

Beware of unsolicited commercial email. The cyber marketplace is not a paradise of extraordinary bargains and get-rich-quick opportunities.

To alert consumers to potentially fraudulent email offers, the Consumer Council has highlighted, in this September issue of CHOICE, some of the common scams that are likely to arrive in consumers' email boxes:

Chain letters -You are asked to send a small amount of money to each of 4 or 5 names on a list and, in the process, you will receive a big sum of money at the end. In reality nearly all of the people who participate in them lose money.

Investment opportunities -Investment schemes promise outrageously high rates of return with no risk. Promoters of fraudulent investments often will operate a particular scam for some time, and all too soon disappear with the money.

Work-at-home schemes -Employment that promises steady income for minimal labour at home. But first you must pay a fee to get started in the business. Naturally, the email sender never had real employment to offer.

Guaranteed loans on easy terms -Some offer home equity loans that don't require equity in your home as well as credit cards regardless of your credit history. In the end, after submitting your personal data, your applications are turned down.

Bulk email -They offer to sell you lists of email addresses to which you can send your own bulk solicitations. Sending bulk email violates the terms of service of most internet service providers. Further, if you use one of the automated email programmes, your ISP may shut you down.

Free goods -Some offer valuable goods, for example, computers or long-distance phone service, for free. Most of these offers are covering up pyramid schemes, operations that inevitably collapse after you have paid to join the scheme.

Health and diet ads -Common examples include pills and herbal formulas that let you lose weight without exercising, or cures for impotence and hair loss. Many of these products and therapies cannot be medically substantiated and could pose health hazards to their users.

In addition, also highlighted were two complaint cases relating to personal loan borrowing.

In applying for loans from certain finance service companies, the two complainants were asked to pay $1,500 and $2,000 as deposits for handling charge and legal fee respectively. Later the companies turned down their applications and forfeited the deposits on grounds that they were unable to provide "suitable" referees, and that the information in their applications was inaccurate.

Before signing any loan agreement, consumers are advised to clarify with the lenders the following:

  • Does the company require a guarantor?
  • Does it require collateral security?
  • The terms and conditions of the agreement, for instance, penalty for early redemption of loan, interest charge for late payment, etc.

Performance of Mobile Phones

Test results of 21 new models has led to a new ranking order (in terms of their performance) of 44 mobile phones available in the market.

Detailed test results of the 44 models of mobile phones were contained in this issue of CHOICE.

Chairing the press conference today (September 16) on the publication of CHOICE issue number 311 is Dr. Matthew NG, Vice Chairman of Publicity and Community Relations Committee of the Consumer Council.