Here at Misona, we occasionally have questions about the contents of our diatomite/diatomaceous earth bath mats. We’re here to put your mind at ease – our product is made from 100% diatomite. Tested, proven, and completely safe.

Some customers seem to be worried because of news articles they have seen circulating about asbestos being contained in similar bathmats and drinks coasters around Japan and Hong Kong in the last few years.

Asbestos Alert

In December 2020, Japan’s Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA) recalled a number of diatomaceous products as they were found to contain asbestos.

These are not the same products that Misona sell, and we want to dispel any worries that customers might have about the contents of our diatomite mats.

Some of the products that were recalled in Japan due to asbestos contents.

Independent Asbestos Testing for Misona

To help do this, and ensure our customers have complete faith in our products, we’ve sent our diatomite bathmat for independent testing by Allium – a UKAS accredited asbestos surveyor.

They have verified that our bathmats do not contain asbestos and are perfectly safe for our customers. Hooray!

If you’d like to read the full report, you can also find it here.

As far as we know, Misona are the only diatomite bath mat supplier on the market that has conducted independent testing, so you can purchase from us and be confident of a quality and safe product that not only looks great in your bathroom – but can also be better for the environment than conventional bath mats.

Of course, we’re not surprised to see the results of this test - we only use quality and safe materials in our products, and work with high quality manufacturers to make sure that our products are the best available on the market - free from any problems, issues, or contaminants.

Diatomaceous Earth Mat Recall – What’s the Story?

As we mentioned, Japan’s CAA recalled some products in December 2020. It turned out that some samples from these products were found to contain asbestos – bath mats, coasters, furniture. The manufacturers explained the contamination must have happened either during the mining or manufacturing process. All the customers who purchased the product from this bad bunch were advised to return the goods.

It’s very important to understand that diatomite itself does not contain asbestos. Nor was it intentionally added to the products.

Diatomite is, however, kind of an umbrella term since the exact composition may vary between specific deposits. It’s found in nature and mined from sedimentary deposits, as we know.

As such, it can be found next to specific naturally occurring asbestos-containing minerals, like chrysotile, for instance. And that’s often how contamination happens. Of course, everything has to go through quality control before it’s approved for any consumer use.

The law in Japan is quite strict in that regard, ever since 2006, any product in which the asbestos contents exceed the threshold of 0.1% is banned from commercial use. Before that, 1% used to be admissible.

So, how did this happen?

Due to some regulatory loopholes and somewhat limited testing abilities (layered and mixed products) in certain cases, this contaminated diatomite got through and was used to manufacture some of these products. 

• Some of the diatomite came in the form of extruded cement panels which were processed before that time.
• Large amount of diatomite was imported from China, which has much more lenient asbestos-related regulations than Japan.
• Some bath mats were made in a factory in China and imported directly from there.

That explains how asbestos got into the raw material but how did these products manage to reach the consumer market? 

Well, the authorities and tax system have something to do with that, believe it or not.

Bad Batches & Hometown Tax Gifts

So, Japan has a unique system – or part of it. That part is called hometown tax gifts, which are incentives given to people who make donations under Japan's "Furusato Nozei" (Hometown Tax Donation) system.

It was designed to help small villages and communities survive, and, ideally, thrive. For instance, if a person lives in a large city but, originally, comes from a small town, they can still pay part of their income tax to their hometown authorities.

Here’s the gist of how this works. 

• Japanese taxpayers can donate money to a local government (municipality) of their choice.
• In return, they receive a gift (often local specialities like food, crafts, or household items).
• Donors can deduct most of the donation from their income tax and residence tax, making it a form of tax redirection rather than a true extra cost.

These gifts included – you guessed it – bath mats and coasters.

It was a rather serious matter in Japan as the testing and control went all the way back to 2006. Some claims were made that gaskets for machinery and other construction elements contained an abnormally high amount of asbestos.

When it comes to bath mats, the most contaminated sample was at 1.3%.

Why Is Asbestos Dangerous?

Such a strong response can raise eyebrows. Is it really such a big deal? Unfortunately, yes.

Asbestos is harmful because its microscopic fibres can become airborne and be inhaled into the lungs, leading to serious health risks. The body cannot break down or remove these fibres, which can cause long-term damage.

What kind of damage?

• Mesothelioma – A rare, aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
• Lung Cancer – Often linked to prolonged exposure; risk increases for smokers.
• Asbestosis – A chronic lung disease causing scarring and breathing difficulties.
• Pleural Diseases – Thickening or fluid buildup around the lungs, reducing lung function.

The consequences can be dire, to say the least. Asbestos is the most dangerous when airborne. That’s why mats and coasters can cause so much damage – they’re fine initially, but when sanded (and that’s part of the maintenance routine for a stone bath mat), cracked or broken, they may release asbestos particles in the air.

Misona Guarantee

At Misona the experience of our customers comes first and foremost. We do this whilst maintaining an environmentally friendly range of home and bathroom products.

Our products are asbestos-free but we’re happy that this problem was detected and the necessary measures implemented.

Full transparency is key for us and we want to keep you informed, aware, and safe.

We will never put customer health and safety above profit, and will always be staying true to our environmental pledge:

• To use zero plastics in our production, and be plastic free by 2025;
• To provide products that stay fresher for longer – helping to eliminate unnecessary washing and water consumption.

By doing this we can combine both style and sustainability, whilst creating a better future for our industry.

Got any questions about our products? Then feel free to get in touch.

We are always happy to answer any queries about our range of towels and bath mats.