Bill aims to ban potentially hazardous water beads sold as children's toys
At 10 months old, Esther Jo Bethard died after having swallowed a stray water bead — a tiny, absorbent sphere that can grow inside the body and cause life-threatening injuries.
At 10 months old, Esther Jo Bethard died after having swallowed a stray water bead — a tiny, absorbent sphere that can grow inside the body and cause life-threatening injuries.
Water beads are colorful and squishy, so they’re often sold as children’s toys or sensory tools. But they can easily scatter across a home and become hidden in carpets or other areas. Young children may mistake them for candy and put them in their mouths, with grave consequences.
The hazards associated with the products are many.
Water beads are small enough for children to choke on, but they can also grow in liquid — in some cases, swelling to the size of a golf ball. When children swallow them, the beads can expand inside their bodies, causing intestinal blockages, bowel obstructions or lung damage. Some kids may put water beads in their noses or ears, causing pain, hearing damage, blockages or infection.
From 2018 to 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission recorded nearly 7,000 emergency room visits for injuries related to water bead ingestion.
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