Consumer Life

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

Balloon-blowing kit, Star Trek set and gel-filled balls recalled

Monday, January 4, 2010 | 12:36 PM ET

A dinosaur balloon-blowing kit and a floating eyeball are among three toys recalled by Health Canada after testing found unacceptable levels of dangerous substances.

More than 310,000 units of the Slimosaurus BlowUp Goop With a Dinosaur Fossil have been recalled after testing by Health Canada found they contained organic solvents that have been banned in Canada since 1973.

The kits, sold at Dollarama between April 2007 and November 2009, come in eight different styles and colours.

The concern is that in blowing up the balloons, children could inhale solvent vapours. Prolonged exposure to the compounds could affect the central nervous system, however neither Health Canada nor Dollarama have received any reports of illness or injury.

Health Canada has recalled this ball because it contains low viscosity petroleum distillates.

A second recall involves the Flashing Eyeball Glideball, which was sold exclusively at Pier 1 stores since September 2009.

The toy is a ball that has a fake floating eyeball inside and various coloured lights that turn on when the ball is knocked against a hard surface. More than 770 units were sold across Canada.

However, Health Canada testing found the recalled toy contains low-viscosity petroleum distillates, which is strictly prohibited in Canada if the substance can be released from the toy on breakage.

Low-viscosity petroleum distillates are highly toxic if ingested or if breathed into the lungs, and could cause central nervous system depression. So far there have been no reports of any illness or injury.

The third toy recall involves the Star Trek Enterprise Bridge play set, imported by RP Toys and sold at stores across Canada.

This Star Trek toy set was recalled because some coatings contain high levels of barium.

Health Canada testing found the coatings of some parts of the toy set, specifically, the bridge of the USS Enterprise, contains barium in excess of the allowable limit.

Barium exposure can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramps, however no reports of illness have been reported. Just under 1,000 units have been sold.

Health Canada has advised that the balloon set and USS Enterprise can the thrown out in regular household garbage but that they should contact their municipality for instructions on how to dispose of the eyeball.

For information on all three toys, visiti: http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/home-accueil-eng.jsp

« Previous Topic | Main | Next Topic »

Story Tools: PRINT | Text Size: S M L XL | REPORT TYPO | SEND YOUR FEEDBACK

World »

updated Outrage grows over Syria killings video
Syrian authorities have blocked a top aide of envoy Kofi Annan from heading to Damascus as world leaders condemn one of the bloodiest single events in Syria's 14-month-old uprising.
updated Ryder wins! Hesjedal takes the Giro d'Italia video
Ryder Hesjedal has made history. The Victoria, B.C. native became the first Canadian to win one of three Grand Tour events, on Sunday, wrapping up the 2012 Giro wth an excellent performance in the 21st and final stage at Milan.
new Iran planning 2 new nuclear plants
Iran's nuclear chief says his country is planning to build at least two new nuclear power plants next to an existing facility that became operational with Russia's help last year.
more »

Canada »

Quebec actress captures Cannes prize
Canadian Suzanne Clement has been awarded the Best Actress prize in the Cannes Film Festival's sidebar competition, Un Certain Regard.
Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance video
The clanging of pots and pans sounded throughout Montreal's downtown core Saturday night and into early Sunday morning, as thousands of protesters marched on in peaceful — but loud — defiance of Bill 78.
Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
Two Winnipeg children reported missing and possibly in Mexico have been found alive, according to unofficial reports from an agency that works to find missing people.
more »

Politics »

new Western premiers to talk environment, energy and Tom Mulcair
The environment, energy and federal NDP Leader Tom Mulcair are on the agenda Tuesday when leaders of the western provinces and territories get together.
N.L. premier 'at odds' with Peter MacKay audio
Kathy Dunderdale, the premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, tells CBC Radio's Evan Solomon she's growing increasingly 'at odds' with Conservative MP Peter MacKay.
Quebec students ready for tuition hike, says one leader audio
The president of Quebec's College Student Federation (FECQ), Leo Bureau-Blouin, tells CBC Radio's The House that students "are ready for a compromise on the amount of a tuition hike," as the Quebec government and the province's student associations prepare to resume talks.
more »

Health »

Chronic fatigue may be reversed with exercise
Taking it easy is not the best treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome, rather exercise and behaviour therapy are, a large study finds.
AT&T buys T-Mobile USA for $39B US
AT&T Inc. said Sunday it will buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom AG in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $39 billion US, becoming the largest cellphone company in the U.S.
Milky Way home to 50 billion planets: NASA
Scientists have compiled the first cosmic census of planets in our galaxy: at least 50 billion planets are estimated to call the Milky Way home.
more »

Arts & Entertainment»

Quebec actress captures Cannes prize
Canadian Suzanne Clement has been awarded the Best Actress prize in the Cannes Film Festival's sidebar competition, Un Certain Regard.
Lady Gaga nixes Indonesia show after threats
Lady Gaga cancelled her sold-out show in Indonesia after Islamist hard-liners threatened violence, claiming her sexy clothes and provocative dance moves would corrupt the youth.
Sweden defeats Russian grannies in Eurovision song contest video
Sweden's Loreen clinches the top spot at this year's Eurovision Song Contest with her dance hit Euphoria, pushing aside competition from a sextet of Russian grannies and a Serbian balladeer.
more »

Technology & Science »

Astronauts enter world's 1st private supply ship video
Astronauts have entered the Dragon, the world's first commercial supply ship, which is docked at the International Space Station.
South Africa, Australia to share world's largest telescope
South Africa and Australia will jointly host the Square Kilometre Array, which promises to be the world's largest telescope, the international consortium in charge of the project said Friday.
Bonavista, N.L., 'coyote' was really wolf, tests confirm
Wolves have not been seen in Newfoundland since around 1930 and were believed to have been hunted to extinction on the island, but genetic tests have confirmed that an 82-pound animal shot on the Bonavista Peninsula in March was, in fact, a wolf.
more »

Money »

analysis What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
A tumultuous Greek exit from the eurozone would have a harder impact on Canada's economy than the credit crisis recession of 2008 and 2009, a report from a major Canadian bank warns.
Bankia asks Spain for €19B video
The board of directors of Spain's troubled bank, Bankia, has asked the Spanish government for €19 billion ($24.5 billion Cdn) in financial support.
EI reforms aim to boost employment, Flaherty says
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty defended his government's proposals to change employment insurance, saying the aim is to remove "disincentives to employment."
more »

Consumer Life »

Honda recalls Fit subcompacts
Honda Canada says it will recall 14,640 of its 2009 and 2010 Fit subcompact cars to replace lost motion springs.
U.S. travel fee proposal criticized by Harper
Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he doesn't think much of a new border tax that's being proposed by the United States, calling it a cash grab designed to help a budget crisis.
Bell class action suit approved by Que. court
A Quebec Superior Court judge has authorized a class action lawsuit to go ahead against Bell Mobility.
more »

Sports »

Scores: NHL NBA

updated Ryder wins! Hesjedal takes the Giro d'Italia video
Ryder Hesjedal has made history. The Victoria, B.C. native became the first Canadian to win one of three Grand Tour events, on Sunday, wrapping up the 2012 Giro wth an excellent performance in the 21st and final stage at Milan.
Stanley Cup final: The most intriguing people
Here are a dozen intriguing individuals to get to know as the Los Angeles Kings and New Jersey Devils prepare to meet in the championship series opener in Newark on Wednesday.
French Open underway as high seeds advance
Major champions Sam Stosur and Svetlana Kuznetsova quickly made their way into the second round of the French Open on Sunday, both winning in straight sets on the opening day of the clay-court tournament at Paris.
more »

Diversions »

[an error occurred while processing this directive]
more »