Beware! Squirting Duck Toy is Not Safe for Kids: Study Shows Rubber Ducks Provide Shelter to Fungus & Bacteria

Studies reveal that children’s all-time favourite bath toy, the yellow rubber duck, is a haven for nasty bugs as some parents have long suspected. Swiss and American researchers counted the microbes swimming inside the toys and said the murky liquid released when ducks were squeezed contained potentially pathogenic bacteria in four out of the five toys studied. The study by the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, ETH Zurich and the University of Illinois is described as one of the first in-depth scientific examinations of its kind.

The bacteria found included legionella, which can cause respiratory illnesses such as legionnaire’s disease and pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacterium often implicated in hospital-acquired infections. The scientists found a strikingly high volume – up to 75 million cells per square centimetre – and variety of bacteria and fungus living inside the ducks. The scientists said that tap water does not usually foster the growth of bacteria, but low-quality polymers in the plastic materials gave them the nutrients they need. Bodily fluids like urine and sweat as well as contaminants and even soap in bath water add microbes and nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, create balmy brine for bacteria.

Microbiologist and lead study author Lisa Neu said, “We’ve found big differences between different bath animals.” Other bath toys like rubber crocodiles were also examined. She further said, “One of the reasons was the material, because it releases carbon that can serve as food for the bacteria.” The scientists say using higher-quality polymers to make the ducks could prevent bacterial and fungal growth.

While certain amounts of bacteria can help strengthen children’s immune systems, they can also lead to eye, ear and intestinal infections, the researchers said. Children particularly enjoy squirting water from bath toys into their faces. Rubber duckies have been a childhood bath-time staple for years.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 28, 2018 11:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).