Some alarms have been raised in the United States because according to a report published in Pediatrics, a child is poisoned every hour due to ingestion of liquid detergent capsules for the washing machine. They are attractive for their colors and texture, but as you can imagine, biting one of them implies a serious health risk.
From Nationwide Children's (a large center for pediatric care and research) it is reported that between 2012 and 2013, the country's toxicological centers they received communications from 17230 children (under six) who had swallowed or inhaled the contents of one of those capsules. It should be noted that these products are used for convenience in administration, and ease of storage, but they have much more concentrated than (for example) washing powder.
It seems that there are manufacturers that have already begun to change the design of the capsule container containers, so that the interior is not visible, and so that it is difficult for children to open
It is the pediatric professionals themselves, who are urging families to change the format of laundry soap; and at least parents should make sure that are not accessible to children. I think that sometimes we do not just believe that a child can ingest a toxic product, but it is that curiosity weighs heavily on learning, and in these cases it plays bad passes.
The problem of detergent capsules
In the study published by the prestigious journal of the American Pediatric Association (Pediatrics), it is observed that 4.4 percent of children intoxicated by these products were hospitalized, and in 7.5% the result was moderate or severe.
73.5 percent of the cases were under three years old (oh those babies who run around the house without supervision!). In total a death from poisoning was confirmed.
In case of ingestion, inhalation, or both, an episode of vomiting usually occurs. Other obvious symptoms are cough, choking sensation, eye irritation / conjunctivitis or lethargy.
The risk of adverse consequences is reduced by resorting to other detergent formats, which do not have that striking appearance; although - and at the risk of being heavy - it is also reduced when the product is stored in a cabinet high enough (or failing that it is locked) so that they do not arrive.
The recommendations that pediatricians are already making include reformulation proposals, and general application improvements for product packaging and labeling. The efforts to disseminate the health risks inherent in this type of detergent should also be redoubled.
Poor labeling
It seems that the warnings shine for his absence, although if reflected there would be someone who did not read. But imagine that on the label it says "it contains butylpropyional methylbutyl - I no longer buy anything - that is considered safe only within the recommended use; it is irritating to the skin."
Or "Alpha - isomethyl Inonona; banned by the International Fragrance Association (my mother!). May trigger allergic reactions and irritate the skin".
And how about "linalool, cinnamal hexyl, citronellol, which could trigger asthma attacks"? Well, although it seems exaggerated, because you will say "good, but they are not for eating", it turns out that there are children who bite him and the liquid goes to their mouths.
There are documented cases (one for each situation below) in which children have needed surgery for burns, and assisted breathing for two weeks.
We talk about the United States, but those capsules they are sold in other countries, in fact in Spain A report from the OCU two years ago indicated that they were even more expensive than other detergents. And in addition, the environmental impact is greater, so the supposed advantages (storage comfort and little else) are blurred a lot.
Finally, I would like to emphasize the idea of ​​preventing domestic accidents with children. In this case, repeating prevention messages at home can have their effect after seven years, and these capsules are too tempting, because they may want to discover if there is jelly, juice, and what flavor it has. So good, I think common sense must supply any kind of recommendation and alert (making it clear that I bet because they are realized if necessary).
