ASOS withdraws radioactive belts

Online retailer ASOS has with withdrawn a batch of studded belts from sale after they were

found to be radioactive. The report, seen by the Guardian, stated that if the metal-studded leather belts were worn for more than 500 hours it could cause injury to the wearer.

The report, called Project Purple Flower, said that the one of the brass-studded belts was pulled by US border control after it tested position for radioactive materials during a routine product test. This then sparked the retailer to announce a global recall on the belt, and all customers who have bought the product contacted, the retailer had sold 49 belts across 14 countries.

According to The Guardian, the report said: "None of these belts are suitable for public use or possession."

Adding: "Unfortunately this incident is quite a common occurrence. India and the Far East are large consumers of scrap metal for their home and foreign markets. During the refining process of these metals, orphaned radioactive sources are sometimes accidentally melted at the same time.

"This in turn [contaminates the process] and traps the radioactivity in the metal as an alloy or in suspension."

An Asos spokesman said: "A product supplied to Asos did not meet UK health and safety standards. Asos worked with all relevant authorities and undertook a precautionary product recall, in line with our high standards of quality and customer care. No other Asos product lines are affected.

"Asos continues to work with the relevant regulatory authorities and is in dialogue with the supplier and the factory workers involved to ensure a satisfactory outcome."