A 10‑year‑old girl suffered severe burns after a toy burst while being heated in a microwave, a practice that has circulated on social media.
The incident occurred when the child placed a soft‑gel toy in a microwave to soften it, following a trend that encourages users to heat plastic figures to make them pliable.
When the toy overheated, the internal liquid expanded and exploded, scalding the child’s face and causing permanent scarring.
Emergency responders treated the injuries, and the child was hospitalized for further care.
Authorities have warned that heating non‑food items in microwave ovens can cause dangerous pressure buildup and release of hot chemicals.
Some of the toys contain chemicals such as benzene, a volatile liquid historically used in industrial applications and consumer products.
Benzene is a colourless liquid with a sweet odor, employed as a feedstock for plastics, foams, dyes, solvents, and insecticides.
Although once common in cosmetics and cleaning agents, benzene is now restricted due to its toxicity.
Short‑term inhalation of benzene can irritate eyes, nose, throat, and cause coughing and breathing difficulties; higher exposures may lead to airway swelling and fluid accumulation in the lungs.
Ingestion produces a burning sensation in the digestive tract, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Long‑term exposure is linked to acute myeloid leukaemia and other cancers; health agencies classify benzene as a Group 1 carcinogen.
Public health officials advise against exposing children to toys that contain hazardous chemicals and caution against any microwave heating of non‑food items.
