“Mom, mom! Come quick. MMMMOOOOOMMMMMM! Hurry!” My youngest son is screaming in panic, as I run down the stairs.
“I stepped on a glow stick, the stuff shot up in the air, all over my arm.”
Ushering him to the sink and flushing his arm with water, I ask, “Does it hurt?”
“No”
“Does it burn?”
“No”
What I really wanted to say at that point was, “Then why in the world are you yelling?!” Instead, I calmly say, “Well, I’m sure they wouldn’t put anything in a kids’ toy that could hurt you.” In reality, I was not so sure. Even if the manufacturers of this particular product intended to fill it with “safe” chemicals, how do we know that the glow sticks were filled with the intended chemicals? How do we know this product won’t be on the recall list next week?
Once our son was convinced his arm was neither going to fall off nor glow in the dark for the rest of his life, we set out to clean the carpet, which actually may glow lime-green forever.
The incident made me ask myself, what do I actually know about these chemical filled pieces of plastic I let my children have every Halloween and, on occasion, during other festivities? Granted, my kids are old enough to not put random objects in their mouths, but clearly these things are not impervious to mishaps, even without teeth involved.
We purchased the thin sticks that could be bent into bracelets at Michael’s, our go-to place for school-project supplies and holiday décor. The package reads:
IMPORTANT
- Keep product in original package until ready to use.
- Do not cut or puncture the glow sticks [on purpose].
- Ingredients are non-flammable but may stain clothing or furniture [in the event you ignore the above rule or break the thing.]
- Contact with eyes or skin may cause temporary discomfort. In case of eyes or skin contact, [scream for you mom, then] rinse thoroughly with water.
- Do not drink or ingest contents.
- Do not leave glow sticks in direct sunlight or expose to high temperatures.
- After use, dispose of glow sticks in a refuse container.
A lot of warnings, but no information about what is actually in the sticks. So, I had to dig a bit deeper.
According to Discovery’s “How Stuff Works” site, glow sticks are made with Hydrogen Peroxide and Phenyl Oxalate Ester. The former, of course, is a common, over the counter disinfectant; the latter was a bit more difficult to track down. It is most commonly referenced for its use in glow sticks, and nothing I found seemed to indicated that the chemical is toxic. Some sites, including a glow sticks manufacturer, do say that the chemicals can cause irritation or allergic reaction in some people.
Overall, failry benign. However, I also discovered that not all glow sticks are made the same way. Some glow sticks are made with Dibutyl Phthalate rather than Phenyl Oxalate Ester. Dibutyl Phthalate, or DBT is also not considered a poison, but it can cause irritation on contact and has been linked to birth defects such as those causing problems with male fertility.
DBT was effectively banned from use in children’s toys in the US in 2009, under Section 108 of the CPSIA. As such, theoretically, we should not have to worry about these chemical in products marketed to children, but I have seen enough recalls to know, it is entirely possible that the CPSC will discover a misuse. A good reason to make sure your kids are not playing with or using liquid-filled glow products unattended.
Assuming your glow sticks are of the Phenyl Oxalate Ester variety, the bigger concern if they break, is that you could be exposed to shards of glass from the tiny peroxide-filled tubes inside. Activating the glow requires breaking these tubes to allow the two chemicals to mix and react. The manufacturers intend for these broken glass pieces to remain safely enclosed in the plastic stick, which they will... until your son steps on them.
So, will I let my children have glow sticks in the future? Yes, but I will definitely keep these safety tips in mind:
- Only let children use glow sticks intended for children. If they are marketed as a safety light or camping tool, etc., it is possible that they will contain Dibutyl Phthalate (DBT).
- Do not give any glow products to children under 5 years of age.
- Do not allow the kids to “play” with the glow sticks and jewelry.
- Make sure the glow sticks are picked up and properly disposed when finished.
- Look for high quality glow products that are less likely to rupture.
- If a glow product does split open:
- Watch out for glass. Wear gloves to clean up the mess.
- Run water over the affected skin for several minutes.
Lastly, remember that even the most diligent manufacturers make mistakes. Make sure you check your glow sticks for recalls, or, you can add them to your Items I Own account and let WeMakeItSafer check and monitor them for you.
After completing my research, I head to my son's room to check in on him. He is sitting on his floor, glow sticks still all around his room where he had placed them the night before – Dance Party USA style.
“So you didn’t learn a lesson?” I asked.
“Yeah. I learned that when there’s a problem you scream, ‘Mom! Mom! Mom!’ really loudly until she comes.”
“Very funny, child. Very funny. Now pick up the glow sticks before you break another one.”