Nydia Ywalmoriel
11-07-2007, 01:28 PM
In yet another 'unregulated chemicals from China poison people' case, a popular childrens' modelling toy, Bindeez, has been shown to contain a chemical precursor to GHB, commonly known as 'roofies' or the 'date rape drug'. An Australian biochemist became suspicious after a child was brought into the emergency room, suffering convulsions and in a coma-like state, which he initially thought was due to a genetic biochemical disorder.
As it turned out, the boy was excreting GHB in his urine, and had vomited up the beads prior to and during the admission process to the hospital. The GHB excretion stopped once the boy began to recover suggesting it was exposure related - and since this incident at least 4 other children have presented at Australian hospitals exhibiting the same phenomenon, all of whom had swallowed the beads.
Bindeez beads are sold in over 40 countries, including the US, and, as might be expected, a reliable supply chain for the beads' ingredients (from at least three factories in China) cannot be established.
Article here: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/07/business/toys.php?WT.mc_id=rssfrontpage
IHT had an *excellent* article about how unregulated chemicals from China enter the pharmaceutical supply chain a couple of weeks ago, which is quite a bit more scary than the above, as it's extremely widespread; I'll attempt to find the link.
Regards,
Nydia
As it turned out, the boy was excreting GHB in his urine, and had vomited up the beads prior to and during the admission process to the hospital. The GHB excretion stopped once the boy began to recover suggesting it was exposure related - and since this incident at least 4 other children have presented at Australian hospitals exhibiting the same phenomenon, all of whom had swallowed the beads.
Bindeez beads are sold in over 40 countries, including the US, and, as might be expected, a reliable supply chain for the beads' ingredients (from at least three factories in China) cannot be established.
Article here: http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/07/business/toys.php?WT.mc_id=rssfrontpage
IHT had an *excellent* article about how unregulated chemicals from China enter the pharmaceutical supply chain a couple of weeks ago, which is quite a bit more scary than the above, as it's extremely widespread; I'll attempt to find the link.
Regards,
Nydia