Dad notices strong smell coming from daughter’s toy. Then he finds out she has been playing with something that ’causes acute leukaemia’

A Canada father has raised concerns after testing a viral squishy dumpling toy and finding it emits what he described as dangerously high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Jordan Collinet, who runs a TikTok account under the handle @learning.the.limits, shared a video of himself testing two brand-new squishy dumpling toys inside a sealed plastic bag using an air quality detector. The results, he said, were alarming.

In the video, Collinet noted a strong chemical smell as soon as he opened the packaging, comparing it to the smell of paint. Within 20 seconds of sealing the bag, the meter’s reading climbed well into what he described as toxic levels. The device, a MOESAPU air quality detector, measures total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and has a maximum reading of 9.999 mg/m³ –  a level the toys apparently reached in under a minute.

“Don’t buy these. If you have them, return them. It’s not worth it,” Collinet said in the video, which was captioned: “I went ahead and tested the viral squishy dumplings directly from the packaging. The results were very concerning.”

Swansea Trading Standards seized the toys from local retailers after lab tests confirmed the presence of multiple VOCs

The concerns raised by Collinet are not isolated. Swansea Council’s Trading Standards has also issued a public warning about squishy dumpling toys and similar squishy products, following complaints from parents about a strong chemical smell they described as similar to petrol. Officers examined several of the products and found that some failed to meet basic toy safety requirements, according to the council.

Lab tests carried out by Trading Standards on seized samples reportedly identified the presence of several volatile organic compounds, including ethyl benzene, styrene, m-xylene, p-xylene, and o-xylene. The council said these substances are associated with the petrol-like smell that parents had reported, and that the levels detected raised significant safety concerns.

Among the compliance issues identified, officers found that some products were missing clear safety instructions for what to do if the toy leaks or is punctured, a CE or UKCA safety mark, and the name and address of a UK-based responsible person, such as an importer or manufacturer. According to Trading Standards, the absence of manufacturer details is particularly concerning because it makes it harder to trace accountability if safety issues arise.

Rhys Harries, Swansea Council’s Trading Standards Officer, said: “These products are clearly attractive to children because they are being driven by online trends, but that does not mean they are safe. When a toy gives off a strong chemical smell and is missing basic safety information, that should ring alarm bells for parents and retailers alike. Our main concern is the risk posed to children if unsafe items end up in homes, school bags or play areas.” 

Harries added: “Social media platforms such as TikTok can accelerate the spread of toy crazes almost overnight, but they can also help point Trading Standards towards the latest fake, unsafe or non-compliant products entering the market. We would urge parents to be cautious, to buy from reputable retailers, and to check for the correct safety markings and supplier details. We would also ask businesses to be alert to fast-moving trends and make sure the products they stock meet legal safety requirements.” Similar chemical mishaps can lead to serious consequences, like a Nashville man’s home renovation project causing a building evacuation. 

Back in his TikTok video, Collinet also highlighted that the toys he tested were brand new and had not been aired out, unlike the ones he had previously tested. He suggested this made the readings worse. Pointing to the packaging, which stated “Ages 3 and up,” he questioned whether the product was appropriate for young children. 

“Do you really think that this is appropriate for your 3-year-old to be putting in their mouths, up to their face, all over their hands, doing whatever else with?” he said. Similar chemical smells have prompted other consumers to immediately return products, like a man who sent back a used truck after a strong odor.

The video prompted a wave of questions in the comments section. One viewer asked whether washing the toy would make it safer. Another user responded that washing would not help, explaining: “Washing it won’t really change anything since the issue with VOCs is that the vapor pressure of the compound causes it to evaporate at below room temperature. The thing going in the air IS the squishy toy, you can’t rinse it away without putting the whole thing down the drain.” 

Another commenter added: “The VOCs are emitted from whatever materials are used. The only way to NOT have high VOCs would be to completely remove the product causing the high emission of VOCs. You cannot rinse it away.”

Others raised questions about how dangerous the toys actually are outside of a sealed bag. A commenter asked: “But in a wide open room how much a concern is that?” Another viewer asked whether simply waiting long enough might make the toys safe, writing: “I understand not being able to clean them since it’s a gas that’s releasing slowly from the materials but if given enough time, and assuming you could keep it in an appropriate location to do so, would it eventually stop off-gassing and be safe? Or do these materials never stop putting off vocs?” 

The broader concern around VOC exposure connects to a growing body of scientific research on the health risks these compounds can pose, particularly to children. A 2026 study published in Scientific Reports, a Nature journal, found that formaldehyde and benzene, both classified as VOCs, posed the most significant health risks to children in educational settings across 17 EU member states. 

The chemical is also classified as a carcinogenic substance, with UKHSA stating: “Benzene is known to cause acute myeloid leukaemia/acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia and potentially other cancers in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified benzene as carcinogenic to humans (group 1).”