Why a rubber ducky can be dangerous for your child

The rubber ducky is probably one of the most popular bath toys among children. That’s why it’s so hard to believe that these seemingly innocent objects could pose a real threat to our children’s health. The danger is precisely inside, a part that we rarely see and hardly give due importance.

O awesome.clubwith the help of scientists, decided to take a closer look at this information to find out what the real risks are of using such common toys.

One of the most fun aspects for a child playing with a rubber duck is the ability to squirt water on others. But what actually happens when the liquid enters the duckling?

A hot and humid bathroom offers the perfect conditions for the growth of bacteria and fungi, and the toys that children leave in the bathroom do not escape this reality. Over time, the inner surface of these objects becomes contaminated with fungi and bacteria, and all this is eliminated from the toy when the child squeezes it.

A group of researchers from Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology), ETH Zurich (a public research university in the city of Zurich) and the University of Illinois decided to study this problem. Scientists experimented with bath toys, new and used, after simulating 11-week use under normal conditions. After that time, the researchers cut them up to get a closer look at their inner surface.

Depending on the conditions of the experiment, the inner surface of the cut rubber ducks contained from five to 75 million fungal and bacterial cells per 0.99 cm². Among the potentially pathogenic bacteria found during the research was legionella🇧🇷

Why do fungi and bacteria grow inside bath toys? According to the researchers, the plastic used in their manufacture is the main culprit. It is very common for companies to use low quality material, which can even “release substantial amounts of organic carbon compounds”.

The situation gets even worse when other bath-related factors are added. Imagine a baby playing with a rubber duck in the bathtub. The materials used in the manufacture of the toy allow the growth of bacteria and fungi.🇧🇷 in addition, the water itself is contaminated with bacteria from the human body (something normal and related to personal hygiene). Therefore, the child ends up playing with water that comes into contact with a very dirty surface full of bacteria. And it’s not just rubber ducks; there are many other toys made with the same material.

With Eawag’s permission, we’ve posted here some pictures of the cut rubber ducks, to show you how these toys look after a long time of use.

Speaking about the risk rubber ducks pose, Frederik Hammes of Eawag noted: “The situation could strengthen the immune system, which would be positive, but it could also result in eye and ear infections, or even cause gastrointestinal problems🇧🇷

One solution could be to just close the hole in the toy, preventing water from accumulating inside. However, Frederik Hammes is sure the biggest problem lies in the material used. Therefore, it is paramount that manufacturing regulations are changed.

You can see Eawag’s video showing the inside of rubber ducks by clicking here.

Have you ever heard of these risks? Do your children play or have they played with rubber duckies in the bath?