PALLONE WARNS AGAINST PURCHASING WATER BEADS AS HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON BEGINS

Statement

"As the holiday shopping season begins, it is important that parents and all shoppers be warned about the danger water beads pose to children.

Water beads, which are often sold as toys, crafts, or sensory tools, come in all sorts of bright colors and themes to attract children's attention. While they may seem harmless--and are often labeled "non-toxic'--water beads can cause devastating and life-threatening injuries to children. The small polymer beads absorb fluid and can swell to 100 times their original size when swallowed.

Unfortunately, these products aren't hard to get and are easily purchased online and from big box stores who are marketing them to children despite thousands of emergency room visits caused by water beads in recent years.

I've now introduced legislation in Congress to ban water beads, but I urge all holiday shoppers to leave water beads off their shopping lists while we work to remove these products from store shelves."

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