Party balloons containing illegal levels of cancer-causing chemicals have been discovered for sale on various online platforms, including Debenhams and eBay. Tests conducted by the consumer group Which? revealed that some balloons sold by third-party sellers on these websites exceeded permissible chemical limits by up to six times. The harmful chemicals pose a risk when inhaled or touched, especially when users blow up the balloons or come into contact with the scent.
Which? purchased 21 packs of latex balloons from seven online marketplaces and subjected them to British standard tests to determine the presence of carcinogenic substances. Out of these, eight packs were found to contain concentrations of potentially cancer-causing chemicals well above the legal limit in the UK, rendering their sale unlawful.
Notable examples included a balloon from AliExpress, a rapidly growing platform in the UK, which had more than six times the allowed level of nitrosamines, known probable carcinogens. Balloons from eBay and The Range, also available at Wilko, were found to contain over four times the safe nitrosamine levels. Additionally, a balloon bought from Debenhams was identified as having more than double the acceptable amount of nitrosatable substances, which can transform into nitrosamines upon contact with saliva.
An alarming incident involved Trevor and Lucille Mathers, who purchased balloons from Amazon’s Marketplace in March 2024 for their child’s birthday, only to receive a notification a year later warning about the balloons containing at least 25 times the legal limit of potentially carcinogenic chemicals. These dangerous substances could lead to cancer through ingestion or skin contact. The lack of immediate disclosure by Amazon raised concerns for the safety of children exposed to such hazardous products.
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of carcinogens due to their developing bodies being less equipped to metabolize these chemicals without causing harm. A similar experience was shared by Natalie Hitchins from Which?, who encountered strong chemical odors and adverse physical reactions when inflating balloons purchased from Shein for her son’s birthday. Which? testing confirmed that the same balloons contained more than twice the permitted nitrosamine levels.
Expressing dismay at the findings, Sue Davies, the head of consumer protection policy at Which?, emphasized the need for stringent safety checks on seemingly innocuous items like party balloons to ensure compliance with safety regulations and prevent potential health risks.
Which? recommends consumers to choose balloons with a CE/UKCA mark, indicating adherence to health, safety, and environmental standards. Despite the possibility of counterfeit marks, proper usage can guarantee compliance. It also advises using a pump to inflate balloons to avoid mouth contact and suggests that adults should handle balloon inflation for children under the age of eight.
Responding to the revelations, the companies involved reiterated their commitment to customer safety. They promptly removed the flagged products from their platforms upon notification by Which?. AliExpress, Debenhams, eBay, and Shein all took action to address the issue and prevent further sales of the non-compliant balloons.
Wilko, on the other hand, conducted independent safety tests on the balloons in question and, despite initial findings, decided to recall the products from stores and online for additional verification to ensure customer safety remains a top priority.