It's a ritual as old as the world, well maybe not so old, but inflating the balloons by mouth is a pleasure in its own right. It is a tradition that requires a lot of lung strength but which delights young and old alike. Except that, here we are, we would benefit from losing this habit by swapping it for the use of a simple pump. This is strongly recommended by a Belgian consumer association, Tests-Achats.
The balloons contain nitrosamine, a potentially carcinogenic chemical compound. European legislation prohibits this component in the manufacture of pacifiers for children. A law tolerates it, however, up to 1 mg/kg in the composition of balloons.
The Belgian association carried out tests on 16 balls from local stores. "Test-Achats" simulated the reaction of saliva and the toxic compound and noted that four balloons exceeded the European standard by 0.05 mg/kg and five others by 1 mg/kg. Of the 16 balloon packages tested, only 12 mentioned the use of the pump. The association asks manufacturers to indicate this on each package.
For upcoming parties and birthdays, consider using a pump, reserve your breath for gym sessions and your saliva for… other oral activities!
