Water bead-related emergency room visits increased by more than 130% within a year, with the majority of cases involving children, according to a recent study.
Water beads are small absorbent balls made of polymer that can expand significantly when exposed to water. Despite their harmless appearance, they can lead to internal injuries, death, and some contain the carcinogen acrylamide, as highlighted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The study, published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine by researchers from the Center for Injury Research and Policy and Central Ohio Poison Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio, identifies a concerning trend of increasing emergency visits related to water beads despite existing safety measures and recalls in recent years.
Dr. Gary Smith, the senior author of the study, emphasized the need for stricter regulations to address the risks associated with water beads, especially for children.
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The study revealed that from 2007 to 2022, over 8,000 patients under the age of 20 visited the ER due to water bead-related incidents, with a majority being children under 5 years old.
Dr. Smith highlighted the unique risks water beads pose to children, such as difficulty in detection through X-rays and the need for revising safety standards to address their expanding nature.
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In response to these dangers, a proposed legislation known as Esther’s Law aims to ban certain water beads and require stricter regulations on their marketing as toys.
While precautions are being taken by retailers and regulatory bodies, it’s essential for parents to be vigilant about the toys their children play with, especially those containing water beads.
“Many parents are not aware that water beads can be harmful to children,” said Dr. Marcel Casavant, urging for heightened awareness and caution when it comes to these products.
