Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Life

More children being harmed by ingesting laundry pods

Two years ago, Digital Journal reported on a study by Dr. Gary Smith in the U.S. showing that in 2012 and 2013 poison control centers in the country received 17,230 calls about small kids ingesting soap from laundry detergent pods. The number of calls translated to about one call per hour to a poison center somewhere in the U.S.

A new study conducted by Dr. Smith shows that between 2013 and 2014 there was a 17 percent increase in the number of calls to poison control centers reporting poisonings from ingestion of laundry pods and a 14 percent increase in poisonings due to dishwasher detergent packets.

Smith, who is director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital told TODAY, “What we found was astounding. During the two years of this study we saw an increase in the number of exposures due to detergent, but especially among exposures to laundry detergent packets. In fact, a child is reported to a poison control center about every 45 minutes in this country.”

The study analyzed 62,254 calls made to poison control centers in 2013 and 2014 covering unintentional exposures to laundry and dishwasher detergents in children under the age of six. While calls increased for all types of detergent exposure, the rise was greatest for the laundry detergent pods that contained concentrated liquid detergent, according to CTV News Canada.

Detergent pod poisoning in children resulted in:
17 cases of coma
6 cases of respiratory arrest
4 cases of pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
2 cases of cardiac arrest
There were also a number of cases where children suffered vomiting, burns to the throat, and eye injuries.

The researchers concluded that the concentration of chemicals in the laundry pods “may account for the higher toxicity observed.” The laundry pods first made their appearance on supermarket shelves in 2012, marketed as a cleaner option to the powdered forms of detergent. The pods now contain either granules or liquid, and the liquid form is very dangerous.

Manufacturers – Add a bitter taste and stronger containers
In 2015, two lawmakers tried to get legislation called the Detergent Poisoning and Child Safety Act passed. It would have required safety standards for these dangerous products.

“Anyone with common sense can see how dangerous it is to have liquid detergent in colorful, bite-sized packets that children will inevitably swallow,” said bill co-author Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) in a statement.

The bill was put on hold after pod manufacturers agreed to make changes to their products, including adding a bitter taste and putting a coating on the packets to make them harder to open, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The Inquistr reports that Dr. Smith suggests otherwise. Pointing out that voluntary measures by the pod manufacturers are apparently not working, he suggests they not be sold at all. “We may have to strengthen that standard. If that doesn’t work, then these products should be taken off the market, because we do have safer, effective alternatives.”

Avatar photo
Written By

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

You may also like:

World

Calling for urgent action is the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

World

Immigration is a symptom of a much deeper worldwide problem.

Business

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas - Copyright AFP Mark FelixPointing to the still...

Business

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal infers that some workers might be falling out of the job market altogether.