Taipei, Dec. 25 (CNA) Nitori Taiwan, a retailer of Japanese furniture and home accessories, on Thursday announced a voluntary recall of nine types of diatomaceous earth bath mats and coasters due to possibly excessive levels of the carcinogen asbestos.
In a notice on its website, the retailer said customers who purchased the products can take them to a Nitori store for a full refund, with or without the receipt.
The nine affected products were made in China, and 2.41 million of them have been sold globally, according to the company.
In the notice, Nitori said it had removed an additional 54 items from its shelves, pending testing for asbestos.
Customers who have items confirmed as containing asbestos or currently being tested should double-wrap them in plastic until they can be returned or are deemed safe, the company said.
According to the company, products that are worn or broken pose the greatest danger, as this can allow asbestos particles to be released into the air.
Inhalation of asbestos fibers is known to cause several types of cancer, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
A full list of the affected products, including their names, product numbers and photos, is available on Nitori Taiwan's website.
Diatomaceous earth is a soft, siliceous sedimentary rock that has been crumbled into a fine white powder.
