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Are Water Beads Toxic? (Orbeez)

person holding a handful of water beads

Even though the polymers used to create water beads are non-toxic, they can absorb liquid  and expand in the intestinal tract after someone swallows them. This can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening intestinal blockage due to the size of the bead.

What are water beads?

Water beads or “sensory beads” are small, super-absorbent polymer crystals that, when put in water, grow to be about the size of a marble or larger. The size the water bead grows depends on the brand and how long it soaks in water.

picture of colored water beads

What are Orbeez?

Orbeez is the trade name for gel beads that grow considerably in water and is a popular toy that kids love. Orbeez are super-absorbent polymers that grow to be about 100 times their original size when put in water. The manufacturer makes a variety of items for kids to play with the beads, including activity kits, foot spas, and sensation stations.

What are water beads used for?

Water beads were originally used as agricultural products with the intention to maintain soil moisture. Florists use them to hydrate their floral arrangements. Currently, people use water beads as fluid absorbers in baby diapers, incontinence garments, and menstrual pads. People also use water beads as educational tools and entertainment for young children. In younger children, these beads can help develop sensory skills and hand-eye coordination for children of all ages.

What are water beads made of?

Water beads are made from super-absorbent polymers. Super-absorbent polymers can be synthetic (artificial) or natural. Most super-absorbent polymers made today are artificial and are made from petroleum products such as polyacrylate and other acrylics.

Are water beads toxic if swallowed? Are Orbeez toxic?

They are used in sensory play in both home and daycare/school settings and companies market them as non-toxic. However, water beads can be very dangerous, especially to small children, if they swallow them.

Water beads are undigestible. If someone accidentally swallows a water bead, the bead absorbs the body’s fluids and can expand to a size that can cause intestinal or bowel blockage known as an obstruction. Even very small water bead crystals pose a serious risk.

Are water beads safe for toddlers?

Unfortunately, it’s very easy for young children to put the beads in their mouth, ears, or nose. The design of water beads is to expand in water, which is what makes the water beads unsafe if you do not supervise the young children. If a child swallows  a water bead it can lead to choking or bowel obstruction, which is why you always supervise them while using water beads.

Can water beads kill you?

Swallowing water beads can cause life-threatening obstruction in the intestines and are a choking hazard. There is at least one report of a death after a water bead ingestion by a child.

How to store water beads

If you have children and store water beads in your home, make sure they are up high out of reach and sight of children. You can store full-sized water beads in air-tight containers, like a jar with a lid or a container with a snap on top. Rinse the water beads first, then store them without water, away from pets and children in a locked cabinet. 

How do you dispose of water beads?

The water beads absorb excess water and slowly release it as it starts to dry up. You may put them in the trash but make sure it is not accessible to children or pets. Do not throw water beads down a drain or into a garbage disposal. They will very quickly clog any pipes and/or burn out the motor of a garbage disposal.

If you find that someone has swallowed a water bead, do not panic. Call the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 where a specially trained nurse or pharmacist can assist you further.

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