Party balloons containing dangerous levels of cancer-causing substances have been discovered being sold on popular online platforms like Debenhams and eBay. Tests conducted by consumer group Which? revealed that certain balloons being sold online exceeded the permissible limits for harmful chemicals by up to six times. The group labeled these findings as “outrageous” and raised concerns about the potential health risks associated with exposure to these substances.
Which? purchased and tested 21 packs of latex balloons from various online marketplaces, with eight out of the 21 balloons found to contain concentrations of potentially carcinogenic chemicals well above the legal limit in the UK, making their sale illegal. Examples included balloons from AliExpress, eBay, The Range (also available at Wilko), and Debenhams, which all had significantly elevated levels of harmful substances.
In a concerning incident, a couple purchased balloons from Amazon’s Marketplace for their child’s birthday, only to later receive a notification from Amazon warning about the high levels of cancer-causing chemicals in the balloons, which exceeded legal limits by 25 times. This alarming discovery highlighted the potential risks of exposure to such substances, particularly for children whose bodies are more vulnerable to the effects of these chemicals.
Individual experiences further emphasized the dangers associated with these balloons, with reports of strong chemical smells, numbness, and dizziness upon exposure to the balloons. Which? recommended that consumers look for balloons with the CE/UKCA mark as a safety measure, although cautioning that counterfeit marks could exist. They also advised using a pump for inflation to avoid mouth contact and suggested that adults should inflate balloons for children under eight years old.
In response to the findings, companies involved in selling the balloons reiterated their commitment to customer safety. They swiftly removed the identified products from their platforms and initiated investigations to address the safety concerns raised. The proactive measures taken by these companies aimed to ensure that such hazardous products were swiftly removed from circulation.
The incident underscored the importance of stringent safety checks and compliance with regulations to prevent the sale of harmful products like party balloons. Consumer safety advocates stressed the need for vigilance when purchasing such items and urged the public to prioritize safety measures to protect against potential health risks associated with exposure to carcinogenic substances present in everyday products.