A preferred squishy toy has been urgently recalled after it was discovered it accommodates a toxic chemical that could cause cancer.
Squishy Dumplings became a viral craze with kids collecting the soft bao buns, at all times striving for the ultra-rare shiny versions.
But now the lovable toys, manufactured in China, have been urgently recalled after they were found to present a ‘serious chemical risk’.
The outer layer of the smiling dumplings, sold by Samsons Money and Carry, actually contain an excess concentration of benzene.
If inhaled, benzene could cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat. Exposure to large amounts may additionally cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract and skin irritation.
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Others bought the toys for a bizarre social media trend involving heating them in a microwave to ‘make them soft’.
But one girl, 10-year-old Bella, faces being scarred for all times after her’s burst causing the new liquid inside to land on her face.
What’s benzene?
Benzene is a colourless, volatile liquid with a characteristic sweet odour. It’s used as a starting material for plastics, foams, dyes, detergents, solvents, and insecticides.
Before its toxic nature was realised, benzene was previously utilized in cosmetics (for instance aftershaves), domestic (cleansing) solvents and within the technique of decaffeinating coffee. Its use in such consumer products or processes is not any longer permitted.
How dangerous is benzene?
Short term exposure to benzene in air may cause irritation to the eyes nose and throat, cough, a hoarse voice and respiratory difficulties. Exposure to larger amounts could cause swelling of the airways and a build-up of fluid within the lungs. Ingestion of benzene may cause a burning feeling throughout the digestive tract, nausea, vomiting and pain.
Benzene is thought to cause acute myeloid leukaemia/acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia and potentially other cancers in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified benzene as carcinogenic to humans (group 1).
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