Party balloons with illegal levels of cancer-causing substances have been discovered on popular online platforms such as Debenhams and eBay. Tests conducted by consumer group Which? revealed that some balloons sold by third-party vendors on these sites exceeded permissible limits by up to six times. The risk stems from direct contact with the balloons, either through handling, blowing them up, or inhaling the fumes.
Which? purchased 21 packs of latex balloons from various online marketplaces and subjected them to British standard tests to assess the presence of carcinogenic chemicals. Alarmingly, eight out of the 21 balloons exceeded the UK’s legal limits for potentially harmful chemicals, rendering their sale unlawful.
One balloon sourced from AliExpress, a Chinese online retailer gaining popularity in the UK, contained over six times the approved level of nitrosamines, known probable carcinogens. Similarly, balloons from eBay and The Range, also available at Wilko, had more than four times the safe nitrosamine levels, as per Which? findings. Additionally, a balloon bought from Debenhams was found to contain more than double the permissible amount of nitrosatable substances, which can convert into nitrosamines upon contact with saliva.
A couple, Trevor and Lucille Mathers, purchased balloons from Amazon’s Marketplace in March 2024 for their child’s birthday, only to receive a notification a year later alerting them about the balloons’ cancer-causing potential. The balloons were found to contain at least 25 times the legal limit of potentially carcinogenic substances. Trevor expressed concern over exposing his children to such risks, especially after Amazon’s delayed disclosure of the hazardous content.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of carcinogens due to their developing bodies’ reduced ability to metabolize these harmful substances. Natalie Hitchins from Which? shared a similar experience when balloons purchased from Shein for her son’s birthday emitted strong chemical odors, causing physical discomfort upon inflation. Further testing confirmed that the balloons contained more than double the permissible nitrosamine levels.
Sue Davies, the head of consumer protection policy at Which?, condemned the sale of balloons with high carcinogen concentrations, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with safety regulations to prevent adverse health effects. Which? recommends consumers to look for balloons bearing a CE/UKCA mark to ensure adherence to health, safety, and environmental standards. Additionally, using a pump for inflation is advised to avoid direct contact with the mouth, especially for children under eight years old.
Despite the alarming findings, all companies involved emphasized their commitment to customer safety. AliExpress, Debenhams, eBay, and Shein promptly removed the flagged balloon listings upon notification by Which?. Wilko, while asserting the safety of their products through independent testing, opted to recall the balloons as a precautionary measure for further verification.
In conclusion, the discovery of carcinogen-laden balloons highlights the imperative for stringent safety checks and compliance with regulations to safeguard consumer health.