Abu Dhabi authorities test loom bands for carcinogenic substances

Children use the rubber bands to make charm bracelets and other items of jewellery. Craig Cunningham / AP Photo

ABU DHABI // Rubber “loom” bands that are popular with children are being tested by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council for phthalates, a carcinogenic substance, after concerns were raised by the public.

Abdullah Al Khouri, the executive director of the consumers and markets services sector, told Al Ittihad, the Arabic-language sister newspaper of The National: "We took samples of the rubber bands to conduct lab tests.

“If they test positive for carcinogenic substances, we will withdraw the item from all markets and take the appropriate measures immediately.”

Members of the public and teachers in Al Ain called on authorities to ensure that the bands were safe after a report was published in a foreign newspaper stating that they contained 400 times the permitted level of phthalates.

Abdullah Al Muaini, the deputy director of the Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority, told Al Ittihad that Esma had not received any notices regarding carcinogenic substances in children's toys sold in local markets.

He said that the authorities in each emirate conducted periodic inspections and tests before and after products were allowed into the country, adding that hazardous and carcinogenic substances were most often found in counterfeit and fake products.