More than 1,000 children's squishy toys were seized and destroyed after tests showed they contained high levels of benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer. They were taken from stores in Hull, England, after officials discovered that the outer layer of the toys contained too much benzene. The affected products, called Squeezy Dumplings, have been recalled. Parents were told to make sure their children do not play with them anymore.

Benzene is a chemical that can harm the blood and bone marrow, and long-term exposure to high levels has been linked to blood cancers such as leukaemia.

So, why is benzene harmful, and should parents be concerned if their children have played with these squishy toys?

What Happened to the Squishy Toys?

The toys that were affected are Squeezy Dumplings, which are soft plastic toys made to look like small food items. The products were sold by Samsons Cash and Carry Ltd and were found to have 20 milligrams of benzene per kilogram in their outer layer, which UK safety authorities deemed to be too high a level.

The Office for Product Safety and Standards said the toys posed a serious chemical risk and did not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. The products were taken off the market, and people were told to stop using them and make sure children do not get access to them.

The warning comes as Trading Standards teams across the UK have been taking other unsafe squishy toys out of shops. Some items were found to be missing the correct safety labels or manufacturer details, while others raised concerns about harmful chemicals and other safety problems.

For parents, the main worry is not that every squishy toy contains benzene, but that some products sold without proper safety checks might contain substances that could be harmful to health.

Why Is Benzene Dangerous?

Benzene is a chemical that can get into the body when someone inhales it, swallows it or gets it on their skin. It occurs naturally in crude oil and is also used to produce items such as plastics, resins and synthetic fibres.

The biggest health concern with benzene is how it affects the blood and bone marrow. Long-term exposure can affect how the body makes blood cells, which might lead to problems such as anaemia or changes to the immune system.

Benzene is also considered a known cancer-causing substance in humans. Being exposed to high levels for a long time has been linked to leukaemia, especially a type of blood cancer known as acute myeloid leukaemia.

However, having benzene in a product does not mean that everyone who touches it will develop cancer. The health effects of benzene can vary depending on the amount of exposure, the way someone is exposed and how long they are exposed.

Read more

Can Squishy Toys Expose Children to Benzene?

Benzene was found in the outer layer of the affected toys, which could allow children to come into contact with the chemical when they play with them. However, finding benzene in a toy does not show exactly how much of the chemical a child might take in during normal play.

Benzene can get into the body by breathing it in, swallowing it or getting it on the skin. The amount of exposure someone gets depends on things like how much of the chemical is present, how the product is used and how long a person is in contact with it.

Children might have different ways of being exposed to chemicals compared with adults because they often play with toys frequently and might put things in their mouths. This is one reason why safety limits for children's products are important.

The UK product safety alert said the Squeezy Dumplings presented a serious chemical risk because of the level of benzene found in the toys. The products were taken off the market, so they should not be used or sold anymore.

There is also an important difference between hazard and risk. Benzene is hazardous because it can cause serious health problems, but the potential harm depends on how much a person is exposed to and how long that exposure lasts. A product being taken off the market because it contains too much of a harmful chemical does not mean that everyone who touched it before is sick or has been harmed.

Parents should stop their children from playing with recalled Squeezy Dumplings and keep the toys away from them. Benzene is a known human carcinogen, but handling a recalled toy does not mean a child will develop cancer. The potential health risk depends on the amount and duration of exposure. Parents should follow official recall advice and seek medical help if they have concerns about possible chemical exposure.