Warning Out on Plastic Balloon Blowing Kits that Pose Solvent Inhalation Hazard
28 August 2024, Quezon City. The toxics watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition has again warned parents against allowing their children to play with plastic blowing kits, aka plastic balloons, as these toys may expose kids to solvent vapors.
Taking its cue from Health Canada, the EcoWaste Coalition reminded consumers to steer clear of plastic balloons following the expanded recall of Geilipo balloon blowing toys in the North American country due to chemical hazard.
According to the updated consumer product recall advisory, Geilipo balloon blowing toys sold on the Shein Canada website, consisting of a solvent mixture in a tube and one or more plastic straws for blowing, were being recalled as children’s balloon blowing kits are prohibited in Canada since 1973.
As explained in the advisory: “The safety concern is that blowing the balloons exposes children to inhaling the vapors of any solvents present. If children blow this type of solvent containing balloons for extended periods, they may experience early symptoms of central nervous system depression or dysfunction, including euphoria, hallucinations, dizziness, and difficulties with coordination of voluntary movements. Prolonged exposure can lead to more serious symptoms including muscular twitching, unconsciousness, and coma.”
Despite lacking the required market authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Geilipo balloon blowing toys are sold in the domestic market. In fact, the EcoWaste Coalition managed to buy some Geilipo toys from an online seller for P45 per set with labeling information in foreign characters in violation of RA 10620, or the Toy and Game Safety Labeling Act. According to the FDA product verification portal, there were “no records found” for Geilipo, indicating it has no valid Toys and Childcare Articles (TCCA) Notification.
In June 2018, the EcoWaste Coalition wrote to the FDA about unauthorized blowing kits that emit excessive levels of benzene, a carcinogenic substance, which prompted the group to advocate for a ban on benzene and other solvents in toys, plastic balloons in particular.
As part of its advocacy to protect children’s health from hazardous chemicals, the group submitted in 2022 three plastic balloon toys to the Philippine Institute of Pure and Applied Chemistry (PIPAC) for benzene analysis using Headspace-Gas Chromatography. According to the laboratory tests, the solvent mixture of the said toys contained benzene ranging from 26 to 44 parts per million (ppm), which exceeded the European Union’s of not over 5 ppm for benzene in toys.
While the FDA had issued public health warnings against plastic balloon blowing kits through Advisory Nos. 2018-152 and 2019-102, the FDA has yet to ban benzene and other solvents in plastic balloon blowing kits.
In 2023, as part of its comments to the draft Chemical Control Order (CCO) for benzene prepared by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), the EcoWaste Coalition proposed the inclusion of the use of benzene in toys and other children’s products in the list of prohibited uses of benzene, “considering the vulnerability of children to the adverse effects of benzene exposure.”
The EMB has yet to finalize and promulgate the benzene CCO.
“Benzene and other hazardous substances that can seriously harm a child’s health have no place in toys and other children’s products,” the EcoWaste Coalition emphasized.
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