They may make your laundry day quicker and more convenient, but they are also very risky for children. We are talking about laundry pods.
In a study that involved tracking calls received by poison control across the country, the Nationwide Children's Hospital researchers in Columbus, Ohio, found out there are over 17,000 reported cases of exposure to detergent pods within one year alone, from 2012 to 2013.
The results of the study, which were already published in Pediatrics, also showed that these children were under six, most of whom were around 3 years old and below.
Of the 17,000 cases almost 800 were hospitalized, 100 had to be put on ventilators, some fell into a coma, and one child died.
There are three major reasons why there's a sudden spike of pod poisoning among children. First, these pods are often packaged as small and colorful, making it easy for small children to mistake them as candies.
Second, young ones are often more curious, inquisitive, and mobile. In a related video showed by ABC News, even those children with quite small hands can open lids after a few seconds.
Third, although doctors aren't sure the specific reasons why these pods have become toxic to children, they believe that the very high concentration levels of chemicals that may not be found in other types of detergents have made them more toxic to children.
While some have ingested the pods, others have rubbed them in their eyes.
According to National Cleaning Institute, an organization that speaks on behalf of major detergent brands in the country, companies that manufacture these pods are serious in avoiding these cases by adding a more conspicuous, readable, and understandable label, as well as making its packaging safe.
Nevertheless, the best way to avoid poisoning is to make sure these pods are out of the children's reach, including a locked cabinet.
