Is Homemade Slime Dangerous?

It is Science Fair season around these parts, and the parents … um, I mean the kids are working on their projects. Break out your baking soda and vinegar, break out your homemade circuitry, but you may want to leave the slime making to the experts.

Apparently, slime making has become the new fad on school playgrounds, with kids competing over who can make the best slime. Not only will this trend make your science fair slime less impressive, the main ingredient, Borax, is toxic in high concentrations. It can cause serious eye damage, is a skin irritant and has even been accused of teratogenicity and causing infertility. Of course, you likely are not eating it or spreading it on your skin. Like so many commonly used products, the potential danger in Borax is controversial, and the studies are done in mice who are exposed to very high concentrations. However, it does seem clear, it should be used by and around children only when it is diluted and only under supervision.

READ: Does Nutella Cause Cancer?

For me, the potential danger makes a great argument to keep messy slime making out of my kitchen. Good luck with your volcano.

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