Today, U.S. Senators Baldwin (D-WI), Casey (D-PA), and Collins (R-ME) introduced Esther’s Law which will ban the sale of hazardous water beads which pose an ingestion and toxicity hazard. The bipartisan bill will direct the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to issue a rule that would ban water beads marketed to children as toys, educational materials, sensory tools, or art materials. A similar water bead ban bill was introduced in the U.S. House last year.
Water beads are tiny, plastic balls made of superabsorbent polymer chemicals that can grow up to 1,500 times their size when placed in liquid. If ingested, inhaled, or inserted in ear canals, water beads absorb bodily fluids and can lead to potentially life-threatening injuries, such as intestinal or bowel obstruction, or lung or ear damage. Additionally, the ingredients in some water beads have also been shown to be toxic, resulting in poisonings and potentially complicating recovery for some children.
The bill is named after 10-month-old Esther who passed away on July 7, 2023, in Wisconsin due to water bead obstruction. No one knew how Esther got hold of a water bead because her family did everything correctly – the water beads had not been used in months, adult supervision was strictly enforced, and they followed the directions and the product’s age recommendation.
According to CPSC data, between 2016 and 2022, there were an estimated 7,800 water bead injuries that were treated in hospital emergency departments and at least one death. No amount of supervision can keep children safe from water beads. Even if purchased for older kids, the tiny beads can easily spread throughout the home and a younger child may get hold of them.
Water beads for children should never have been on store shelves, and this legislation will remove them going forward. In December, major retailers including Amazon, Target, Walmart, Michaels, and Etsy announced that they will stop selling water beads marketed to children. However, hazardous water beads will still be available for sale and pose a harm to children unless a federal ban is enacted.
Families should discard water beads immediately and stay vigilant because they may unknowingly remain in homes due to their small size. Learn more about the dangerous of water beads at That Water Bead Lady. Read our 2-part interview with Ashley Haugen, That Water Bead Lady, and follow us on social media @kidsindanger for updates on the bill.
