Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Cinnaminson, New Jersey, April 25, 2024

Last month, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning for consumers to immediately stop using a brand of water bead sets because the large water beads contain levels of acrylamide in violation of the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. If one of these large water beads is ingested, it can pose a risk of toxicity to children, causing adverse health effects.

CPSC also cautions:

Water beads look harmless – almost like candy – but can be deadly to babies and small children if ingested; and can lead to choking, internal injuries and even death if left undetected. Water beads, often sold as toys, in craft kits, as sensory tools for children with developmental disabilities or for agricultural use, are small, water-absorbing, often colorful balls of super absorbent polymer and can grow 100X their original size when exposed to water.

The water bead sets were sold online by two Chinese companies through a large online retailer in the United States. The products were available from March of 2021 through November 2023. 

“Not only can these types of products be a choking hazard, in this case, some of the water beads contain hazardous levels of acrylamide,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have all concluded that acrylamide is likely to be carcinogenic to humans. California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added acrylamide to the list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer for purposes of Proposition 65 in 1990, and for developmental and reproductive toxicity in 2011.”

To help prevent these types of consumer exposure risks, and the high costs associated with product recalls and the public relations damage to company brands, the consumer product and material testing experts at EMSL Analytical offer acrylamide and other chemical and microbial testing services. These testing resources are available to manufacturers, importers, distributors, retailers, regulatory agencies and public health professionals.

Several years ago, EMSL sponsored an educational video about acrylamide and potential exposure that can still be seen at: https://youtu.be/lsNsJJuT0uw

To learn more about consumer product and material testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP <797>, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.