Study Finds Most Participants Did Not See or Read High-powered Magnet Warnings, Thought Magnets Were Children’s Toys

High-powered magnets are among the most dangerous childhood foreign body exposures. These magnets were first sold as desk toys or stress relievers in 2008. Each set typically contains hundreds of small magnets that are many times stronger than typical ferrite refrigerator magnets. Since that time, high-powered magnets have been linked to thousands of injuries and deaths in children. A new study has found that more than 90% of those surveyed didn’t know if warning labels on magnets were present or didn’t read them, while almost half believed that these magnets were children’s toys. The study, “Warning Labels and Magnet Exposures,” which will be published in the October 2022 issue of Pediatrics (published online Oct. 3), looked at subjects from IMPACT of Magnets, a retrospective, multi-center study of children with high-powered magnet exposures (i.e., ingestion or bodily insertion). Almost 175 participants responded to a standardized questionnaire about the magnets. Subjects reported not knowing if a warning label was present in 53.6% of cases. Participants also reported knowing that magnets were dangerous in 58% of the cases, although 44.3% believed they were a children’s toy and only 6.9% knew high-powered magnets were previously removed from the U.S. market. Warning labels on high-powered magnet products are unlikely to prevent injuries in children, the authors conclude.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.