Home  Contact Us
  Follow Us On:
 
Search:
Advertising Advertising Free Newsletter Free E-Newsletter
NEWS

Boy loses eye after playing with desiccant 'Dry Pack'
Published on: 2018-01-08
Share to
User Rating: / 0
PoorBest 

052Many parents may not think much of the little packet of desiccant that is commonly packaged with food, but a harrowing tale happened this week is likely to make them far more cautious.

 

After finishing his store-bought snack, eight-year-old Keke poured the desiccant into a bottle filled with water. He wasn't expecting it to explode, but it did, and some of the fluid got into his eye.

051After hearing his screams, Keke's mother rushed to him and flushed his eyes with water. But it was too late when he arrived at the hospital. The alkaline solution had corroded the boy's right eye and blinded him, his doctor said.

 

Desiccants are often packaged with food to absorb moisture and keep food fresh, according to the China Association for Science and Technology.

 

They usually contain silica gel which is generally safe for use because of its non-toxic and chemically inert nature. However, the drying agent involved in this case is believed to be lime desiccant. It is made of calcium oxide which chemically reacts when combined with water. This process generates a lot of heat quickly and forms calcium hydroxide which is highly alkaline with a pH value of 12.4.

050When the container is unable to accommodate the steam, an explosion occurs. Unfortunately, this is not the first time such an incident has happened.

 

Over the past few years, there have been several reports of children getting chemical burns when they played with lime desiccants.

 

It's best to discard them after use or keep them away from children's reach if parents intend to reuse the drying agents, experts advise.

Comments (0)Add Comment

Write comment

security code
Write the displayed characters


busy
    Subscription    |     Advertising    |     Contact Us    |
Address: Magnetic Plaza, Building A4, 6th Floor, Binshui Xi Dao.
Nankai District. 300381 TIANJIN. PR CHINA
Tel: +86 22 23917700
E-mail: webmaster@businesstianjin.com
Copyright 2024 BusinessTianjin.com. All rights reserved.