KC Reporter

Water beads, often seen as harmless toys, are under scrutiny following a report calling for their ban. The report includes the story of Ashley Haugen's daughter, Kipley, who suffered severe health issues after ingesting these beads.

Kipley, then a toddler, developed symptoms such as a rash and vomiting. Despite initial confusion among doctors regarding her condition, it was discovered that she had swallowed water-absorbing beads her sister was playing with. These beads can expand significantly when exposed to water.

"During surgery, they found the water beads had caused a blockage inside of her small intestine," Haugen explained to CBS News. "Because the water beads were marketed as non-toxic eco-friendly and biodegradable, everybody thought that she would be fine."

Following this incident, Kipley faced coordination problems and difficulty responding to commands. Medical professionals diagnosed her with toxic brain encephalopathy due to developmental delays.

Kipley's case has been documented in the journal Pediatrics. Notably, Haugen is among the first parent advocates to co-author a case report in this publication. The authors advocate for warning labels on products containing water beads to highlight ingestion risks.

Dr. Elizabeth Friedman from Children's Mercy Kansas City commented on the issue: "Water beads are made of poly acrylamide and acrylamide is a known neurotoxin. Our consumer products and the chemicals used to make them are not well regulated."

The full story is available via CBS News.