Health Canada Releases Urgent Alert: Balloon-Blowing Kits Linked to Hallucinations
Health Canada is warning consumers that children’s balloon blowing kits sold on Amazon.ca pose a chemical hazard risk that could cause hallucinations and dizziness.
Health Canada issued a consumer product advisory on Dec. 13 to remind consumers that children’s balloon blowing kits are banned in Canada for health and safety reasons.
The kits contain a short plastic straw and a solvent mixture that allows children to create balloons or bubbles by gradually squeezing a portion of the mixture from the tube and sticking it on the end of the straw. The child then blows through the straw to form a bubble.
The products mentioned in the advisory are:
- 15 pieces Bubble Ball Toy, Burst-Free Plastic Balloon, Colorful Magic Bubble Glue, Perfect Boys and Girls Gift;
- 2024 New Safe Magic Bubble Glue Toy Blowing Colorful Bubble Ball Plastic Space Balloon Fashion Accessories;
- Safe Magic Bubble Glue Toy Blowing Colorful Bubble Ball Plastic Space Balloon.
Anyone who purchased such a kit is being urged to dispose of it according to municipal hazardous waste guidelines.
“The safety concern is that blowing the balloons exposes a child to inhaling the vapours of any solvents present,” Health Canada said.
“If children blow this type of solvent containing balloon for extended periods they may experience early symptoms of central nervous system depression or dysfunction, including euphoria, hallucinations, dizziness, and difficulties with coordination of voluntary movements.”
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Extended exposure can cause even more serious symptoms including muscular twitching, unconsciousness, and coma, the agency said.
The products “have been removed from sale online from Amazon.ca,” Health Canada said, adding that the foreign third-party sellers have been contacted.
Amazon.ca said 127 units of the impacted products were sold in Canada between November 2023 and November 2024.
No incidents or injuries connected with any of the products have been reported to Health Canada to date.
