Party balloons containing harmful chemicals that can cause cancer have been discovered being sold on various online platforms such as Debenhams and eBay. Tests conducted by consumer group Which? revealed that some balloons being sold by third-party sellers exceeded legal limits for carcinogenic substances by up to six times. The risk arises from direct contact with the balloons, inhalation of the chemicals during inflation, or exposure to the chemical odor.
Which? purchased 21 packs of latex balloons from different online marketplaces and subjected them to British standard tests to determine their chemical composition. Out of these, eight packs were found to contain levels of potentially carcinogenic chemicals well above the UK’s permitted thresholds, indicating illegal sales. For instance, a balloon obtained from AliExpress, a Chinese e-commerce platform gaining popularity in the UK, had over six times the allowed level of nitrosamines, which are suspected carcinogens. Balloons from eBay and The Range, also sold at Wilko, had more than four times the safe nitrosamines level. Furthermore, a balloon bought from Debenhams contained more than double the legal amount of nitrosatable substances, which can transform into nitrosamines upon contact with saliva.
In a personal account, Trevor and Lucille Mathers purchased balloons from Amazon’s Marketplace in March 2024 for their child’s birthday, only to receive a notification from Amazon a year later warning about the high cancer-causing chemical content in the balloons they bought. These balloons contained at least 25 times the permitted level of potentially carcinogenic substances. Such exposure to carcinogens is particularly concerning for children whose bodies are still developing and less equipped to detoxify these harmful chemicals. Natalie Hitchins, a Which? staff member, shared a similar experience with balloons bought from Shein, another online retailer, where the balloons emitted a strong chemical odor, causing physical discomfort upon inflation.
Sue Davies, the head of consumer protection policy at Which?, expressed outrage at the situation, emphasizing the need for stringent safety checks to prevent children from being exposed to dangerous levels of carcinogens. Which? advises consumers to look for balloons with a CE/UKCA mark, indicating compliance with health, safety, and environmental standards, although cautioning that counterfeit marks can exist. The organization recommends using a pump to inflate balloons to avoid mouth contact, especially for children under eight years old.
Following the revelations, the companies involved in the tests affirmed their commitment to customer safety. AliExpress, Debenhams, eBay, and Shein took immediate actions to remove the flagged products from their platforms upon notification. Wilko, after independent testing in June 2025, recalled the balloons as a precautionary measure to ensure customer safety pending further verification of the product’s suitability.