Carnival articles unsafe and harmful

Harmful Carnival Articles: One in four Carnival items carries risks to health

22/02/2011

Dangerous carnival items. A quarter of the carnival items are hazardous or unsafe. Carnival masks contained emollients, toy guns were deafening loud, wigs were highly flammable, and the unsecured strings and cords on cloaks and panels ran the risk of children strangulating themselves.

On behalf of the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Labor, the district government of Cologne and the device inspection office of the State Institute for Health and Labor examined a large number of carnival articles two weeks before Rosenmontag - with alarming results. Around one in four carnival items poses a threat to health. Children, in particular, are endangered by the plasticizers they contain and by the mechanical properties of the products.

Carnival items pose risks to health
The investigation commissioned by the North Rhine-Westphalian Labor Minister Guntram Schneider (SPD) concludes that numerous carnival masks, costumes, wigs and toys, which are a must-have for Rosenmontag, pose significant health risks. Children, in particular, are particularly at risk according to the findings. Around one in four carnival items, according to the test centers for adolescents bring health problems. The range of risky articles as well as the possible health consequences is extremely wide. From too loud popping toy pistols (the tester warn against hearing damage) about easily flammable wigs to plasticizers contained „well above the permitted limits“ - the examiners found a variety of deficiencies in their study of 250 different carnival items.

Consumers should be wary of carnival items
All health-endangering products were taken out of the sales following the investigation and first take-backs were handled with the manufacturers and importers, reports the State Institute for Health and Labor. However, consumers should still be cautious when buying carnival items, the verifiers warn. Thus, for (small) children, care should be taken to ensure that the products have no mechanical defects that involve a risk of strangulation or swallowing. To avoid softeners that pose a more long-term risk to the health of adolescents, consumers should pay attention to unpleasant odors of the products when buying and not use the corresponding articles, the investigators said. In addition, the intense smell could also point to other contained pollutants, so that the purchase is in any case advised against. In addition, consumers are advised to refrain from using products without a clear manufacturer address. (Sb)

Picture credits: berwis