Party balloons containing illegal levels of cancer-causing chemicals have been discovered on various online platforms, including Debenhams and eBay.
Tests conducted by consumer group Which? revealed that some balloons sold by third-party sellers on these websites exceeded the permitted chemical limits by up to six times. These findings were described as “outrageous” by Which? given the repeated alerts issued over the past decade about the dangers associated with such levels of toxic substances.
Which? procured 21 packs of latex balloons from seven online marketplaces and subjected them to British standard tests to assess the presence of carcinogenic chemicals. Out of these, eight packs were found to contain concentrations of potentially harmful chemicals well above the legal limit in the UK, indicating illegal sale.
Among the alarming discoveries was a balloon sourced from AliExpress, based in China, which contained over six times the permissible level of nitrosamines, known to be probable carcinogens. Additionally, balloons from eBay and The Range, also sold at Wilko, were found to have more than four times the safe limit of nitrosamines. Furthermore, a balloon bought from Debenhams was identified to contain more than double the legal amount of nitrosatable substances, which can transform into nitrosamines upon contact with saliva.
A case highlighted the potential risks as Trevor and Lucille Mathers purchased balloons from Amazon’s Marketplace in March 2024 only to receive a notification a year later warning about the cancer-causing chemicals present in the balloons. It was revealed that the balloons contained at least 25 times the legal limit of harmful substances. This incident raised concerns about the exposure of children, whose bodies are still developing and more vulnerable to the adverse effects of such chemicals.
Natalie Hitchins, a consumer at Which?, shared a similar experience after buying balloons from Shein for her son’s birthday, noticing a strong chemical odor while inflating them. Testing confirmed that these balloons contained more than double the legally allowed level of nitrosamines.
Sue Davies, the head of consumer protection policy at Which?, expressed dismay at the situation, emphasizing the need for stringent safety checks on products like party balloons to prevent serious health repercussions.
Which? recommended that consumers should opt for balloons marked with CE/UKCA to ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards. They also advised using a pump for inflation to avoid mouth contact and suggested that adults should inflate balloons for children under eight years old.
Despite the revelations, all companies involved assured their commitment to customer safety. AliExpress, Debenhams, eBay, and Shein promptly removed the flagged products from their platforms upon notification.
Wilko, after conducting independent tests, recalled the balloons in question from stores and online for further evaluation to ensure customer safety remains a top priority.
