Lawmaker Announces Bill to Ban Children’s Toy Due to Serious Health Risk

A New Jersey congressman has introduced legislation that would ban water beads products that are marketed for children, warning that the colorful, water-absorbing balls that are sold as kids’ toys can be deadly. Water beads, which are made from a water-absorbent polymer, come in a variety of bright colors, and can look like candy to young children. When dry, water beads can be the size of a pinhead. But when coming into contact with water, they can grow to many times their size. The danger is that, when swallowed, they can absorb internal bodily fluids and continue to grow inside the body, potentially causing internal injuries and even death, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)....