Hi all,

Not travel related, but I think that it is important,

Aqua Dots is a very popular children's toy.

It has been recalled, because the dots are poisonous when ingested.

" The coating on the beads that causes the beads to stick to each other when water is added, contains a chemical that turns toxic when ingested.

Children who swallow large quantities can become unconscious, develop respiratory depression, or have seizures. Consumers with Aqua Dots should immediately remove the beads from children and contact Spin Master´s customer service department at:
(800) 622-8339
BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 6 P.M. ET, MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO ARRANGE TO RECEIVE REFORMULATED REPLACEMENT BEADS OR AN ITEM OF SIMILAR VALUE.

Now this will make them popular among those who want a cheap dope

These beads create the same chemical compound, and the same effects, as Roofies, the "date rape" drug.

Exactly how many do you have to take? (a whole kitty cat, or just a few?)

Why are they being ingested?

The toy is clearly for those over 3 - the age after which it is assumed that the child does not eat the toy.

It's a perfect toy. Little kids can play with them, then they can eat them when they are teenagers.

In an article I read today about the recall, it suggested that just abut every college age boy in the country must be rifling through his little sister's room looking for her Aquadot collection!

>Why are they being ingested?

The toy is clearly for those over 3...<

Because little kids put stuff in their mouths.

How were parents to know that the dots were poisonous?

In succeeding reports, it turns out that the dots weren't supposed to be coated with 1,4-butanediol.

They were supposed to be coated with 1,5-pentanediol. This stuff is used in ink-jet printers.

The safety sheets on this compound say that it is a skin, eye, nose and lung irritant.

What were these people thinking?

Some children put things in their mouths. My twelve year old is bright and usually appears fairly normal, but has mild ASD, and does put stuff in his mouth. I wouldn't worry about him choking, and he wouldn't try something he expected to be toxic (he's capable of checking for the astm-d label himself), but little round plastic beads? Yum! We tossed his room and checked all his toys in case he had been given any we weren't aware of. Also made sure he knew about the recall, and that the coating was toxic and could cause a coma. Of course he then had medical questions that I couldn't answer, but the real point is that even children over three can be at risk from something like this.

Aqua Dots are arranged into a design, then wetted so they stick together. Usually, a spray of water is all that's needed. But somtimes a couple of dots don't stick right, perhaps they didn't get sprayed enough. It's natural for a kid to lick the stray bead or two to wet it. A kid might even try using saliva instead of spraying them.

And of course if the wrong "glue" has been substituted, it's even more likely that they won't stick together properly and will need some extra encouragement.

This is a serious issue, but I'm unclear of how dangerous they really are. On TV they showed a little boy who had gotten very ill from them, but when they talked with the doctor, the doctor was talking about how the kid kept vomitting up dozens and dozens of these beads. I understand why he got so sick. But what happens if a kid licks just one? Anything? If he accidentally swallows just one? A problem?

Don't get me wrong, I DO think they should be pulled and it is a terrible thing, but no one seems very good at telling us HOW MUCH danger there is here.

They may not really know. I remember reading an article in the Times about GHB use a couple of years ago, and I think that one of the things that made it so dangerous is that individuals have extremely varying reactions to the same amount, therefore making it nearly impossible to calculate a safe dose.