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Child toy safety: An interdisciplinary approach to unravel the microbiological hazard posed by soap bubbles

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Abstract

In 2012 some children developed sepsis after playing together with a soap bubble toy. Microbiological testing revealed heavy contamination of the soap solution, which reasonably represented the vehicle of infection. We investigated the issue with a multidisciplinary approach: review of toy safety legislation; microbiological testing of additional samples; query of the RAPEX database for non-compliant soap bubbles; identification of major manufacturing districts. Microbiological contamination of industrial soap bubbles was widespread. Sixty-three notifications of batches contaminated by environmental microorganisms and opportunistic pathogens had been reported. The Chinese had a virtual monopoly of the soap bubble market. We identified two main manufacturing districts in Guangdong Province, both notable for degradation of their water resources. The use of untreated water for the industrial production of soap bubbles may explain the bacterial contamination. Existing legislation provides an unsatisfactory approach for managing microbiological hazards in sensitive toy categories and for identifying responsible parties in import and export of the products.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Dr Laura Baù for her review of the ‘economics morsels’ present in the article. We also mention Dr Emanuela Ravazzolo for her valuable advice in the planning of laboratory activities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Hygiene Section, Via Loredan 18, Padova, 35131, Italy

    Irene Amoruso, Chiara Bertoncello, Gianumberto Caravello & Tatjana Baldovin

  2. Department of Animal Medicine, Health and Productions, University of Padua, Padova, Italy

    Valerio Giaccone

Authors
  1. Irene Amoruso
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  2. Chiara Bertoncello
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  3. Gianumberto Caravello
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  4. Valerio Giaccone
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  5. Tatjana Baldovin
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Additional information

An investigation to explain infections around the mouths of children traced the bacteria to water in the soap solution made in China. Toy stores, around the world, have been selling this solution to help children blow beautiful bubbles.

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Amoruso, I., Bertoncello, C., Caravello, G. et al. Child toy safety: An interdisciplinary approach to unravel the microbiological hazard posed by soap bubbles. J Public Health Pol 36, 390–407 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2015.32

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