Group warns vs proliferation of toys made of expanding 'water beads'

Non-profit organization BAN Toxics advocates for "Lead-Safe Schools for Children's Health and Safety" during one of their awareness-raising events held at Bahay Toro Elementary School in Quezon City on October 23, 2023.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News/File 

MANILA — A watchdog on Thursday warned against buying a toy gun made of water beads gaining popularity among kids due its "potential health and toxicity hazards."

Toxic watchdog BAN Toxics said it noted a proliferation of "battery-rechargeable gel blaster submachine gun toys using water-absorbing plastic beads or gel ammunition and similar toys."

“We express concern about the growing availability of gel blaster submachine gun toys using water beads or gel ammunition that expand to sizes ranging from 7 mm to 10 mm when soaked in water. We reiterate the dangers associated with plastic beads, particularly the risk of ingestion and choking, which can have severe consequences for infants and young children,” said Thony Dizon, BAN Toxics campaigner.

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According to the group, water beads contain a "superabsorbent polymer" and are dangerous when ingested.

"When ingested, the beads absorb the body’s fluids and can expand, leading to symptoms such as vomiting, dehydration, intestinal blockage, infection, and even death. Urgent surgical intervention may be necessary to extract the beads from the intestine," the group warned.

The group said that in the US, 7,000 injuries related to ingestion of such material were reported from 2018 to 2022.

It also cited a report that said water beads may contain toxic chemicals that can leach into the body, including acrylamide, a known carcinogen.

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“While the country has established a national standard for toys, enacted a law for safety labeling of toys and issued related regulations to safeguard Filipino children, there is an urgent need to enhance the current regulatory framework to address the growing concerns of chemical toxicity, unregulated production and importation, and resulting environmental impact of toy plastic wastes and e-waste,” Dizon said.

BAN Toxics is urging the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to intensify monitoring of water beads toys.