Water beads, marketed as colorful sensory items for kids, are posing a serious Health hazard for young children, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These absorbent polymer beads, which can grow to the size of a marble or golf ball when immersed in water, have led to nearly 7,000 ingestion injuries between 2018 and 2022.
Recent warnings issued by the CPSC highlight the toxicity risks associated with water beads from brands such as Jangostor and Tuladuo, found on Amazon. These products contain unsafe levels of acrylamide, a chemical compound known to be a probable human carcinogen. Despite the warnings, the companies have not agreed to a recall.
Parents like Ashley Haugen have experienced firsthand the dangers of water beads. After her daughter ingested the beads and suffered from severe health issues, Haugen founded “That Water Bead Lady” to raise awareness and advocate for a ban on these products. Legislation such as the Ban Water Beads Act has been introduced to address the risks associated with these toys.
Dr. Elizabeth Murray, a pediatric emergency medicine physician, emphasizes the importance of monitoring children while playing with water beads to prevent ingestion or other injuries. It is recommended to wait until children are at least 3 years old before allowing them to play with water beads and to store the beads out of reach in a sealed container.
Despite safety guidelines, some experts, like Haugen, believe that water beads should not be used as toys at all due to their potential hazards. As the debate over water beads continues, the focus remains on protecting children from the risks associated with these seemingly harmless toys.
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