In the period from 16th to 23rd March 2015, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the European Commission are conducting an international campaign to raise public awareness about the risks of liquid laundry detergents in capsules.
The campaign aims to inform consumers, especially parents, to safely use and store laundry detergent capsules, keeping them away from children. Economic operators are asked to follow safety related best practices as well as to help raise awareness on the safe use of laundry capsules. This worldwide campaign involves 23 consumer product safety authorities from 5 continents.
The risks
Laundry detergent liquid capsules/packets are small, tactile and often colourful, which makes them attractive to children, especially toddlers, who are tempted to put them in the mouth or play with them. A laundry liquid capsule can burst in a child's hand, especially when it is wet or moist. It can also rapidly dissolve with moisture and may burst in a child's mouth in as little as ten seconds, which can cause severe injuries.
The main consequences of exposure can be:
- In case of ingestion: severe vomiting, coughing, respiratory disorders, nausea, drowsiness and rash.
- In case of contact with the eyes: conjunctivitis, pain in the eye, eye irritation.
- In case of contact with the skin: rash, skin irritation, chemical burn.
Advice
Keep the product in places that are out of reach of children!
Keep the capsules/packets in their original container, fully closed between uses. Use the capsules/packets carefully, do not use them while children are close by and do not allow or invite children to manipulate them. Never pierce or break laundry capsules/packets. Do not leave the capsules/packets outside their container.
