@article{ref1,
title="Exposures associated with making or playing with viscoelastic polymer toys known as Slime: a retrospective case series from French Poison Control Centres",
journal="Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)",
year="2019",
author="Labadie, M. and Langrand, J. and Leroux, G. and Manel, J. and Nisse, P. and Sapori, J. M. and Tournoud, C. and Sinno-Tellier, S. and Greillet, C. and Solal, C.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="<b>Context:</b> Slime is a slow-flowing material with viscoelastic properties which is attractive to children. Its preparation is based on the crosslinking of polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate or starch with boric acid. <b>Objectives:</b> The goal of this study was to describe the adverse effects of Slime. <b>Materials and methods:</b> This is a descriptive retrospective study of cases of exposure reported to French Poison Control Centres between January 2014 and May 2018. The following parameters were used: age and sex, date and circumstances of exposure, symptoms and severity. <b>Results:</b> Two hundred and eight (208) cases of exposure were recorded, 93 cases happened in 2017, and 88 cases in the first four and a half months of 2018. The average age was of 8 years old; 190 patients were younger than 15. Fifty-seven percent (57%) were female. Regarding routes of exposure, 168 were oral, 30 cutaneous, eight ocular, one inhalation and one ear exposure. Eighty-two (82) patients were symptomatic, including 81 cases of low severity and one of average severity (keratitis). All cases lead to recovery. <b>Conclusion:</b> No significant adverse health effects are expected to develop if only small amounts are swallowed; making Slime with home ingredients is a potential cause of boric acid exposure that must be supervised by adults.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1556-3650",
doi="10.1080/15563650.2019.1657144",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15563650.2019.1657144"
}