It has been over a year since we last reported on laundry detergent pods, which have become a common household hazard. The pods, which consist of colorful laundry detergent liquids contained in small, clear packages, have been produced by at least ten companies in recent years and have poisoned hundreds of children across the nation.
A recent report has been published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, investigating “the epidemiologic characteristics and outcomes of laundry detergent pod exposures among young children in the United States.” The poisonings and death of children under six years old during 2012 and 2013 were investigated. It was found that almost 80% of cases involved the child ingesting a detergent pod or multiple pods.
Detergent companies do not print warnings on their packages, nor do they design their packaging to be child-proof. This Pediatrics study confirmed the need to put more effort into preventing toxic exposure to children via laundry detergent pods.
You can read the full report, here.
Has your child been poisoned due to ingesting laundry detergent pods? If so, do not hesitate to contact our offices today. Use our contact form or call us at 800-598-0314.
“Single-Load Liquid Laundry Packets Harmful” by US CPSC, used under CC BY 2.0
