On TV and on the Internet, there are many informational videos and messages that such a popular type of needlework as weaving from rubber bands can cause cancer. Is it really so?
Due to rumors, about two hundred samples of rubber bands were sent to the laboratory for appropriate analysis. At the initial stage, it was the definition of the material from which the rubber bands were made. Laboratory studies have confirmed that phthalates are indeed present in the rubber from which these rubber bands are made.
Phthalates are hazardous chemicals that can cause serious harm to health, including cancer. But phthalates, due to their availability and low cost, are very widely used in the production of consumer goods: office supplies, rubber toys, cosmetics, sporting goods, etc.
Phthalates were found in rubber bands only in some samples and their permissible limit was not exceeded. From this it should be concluded that rubber bands for weaving are no more dangerous than an ordinary rubber doll. Of course, children are better off buying phthalate-free items. But very often manufacturers hide this information from consumers.
The myth about the danger of rubber bands for weaving is too far-fetched and hyped. Of course, there is some danger, phthalates can contribute to the development of cancer, exacerbate asthma, cause problems with the endocrine system, and infertility. But with periodic weaving and wearing rubber bracelets, the likelihood of cancer is reduced to almost zero, since phthalates are not able to instantly cause cancer. In addition, this disease matures in the body for a long time and can be aggravated under the influence of anything, even ultraviolet radiation, which the skin receives from the sun. Therefore, it is inappropriate to talk about the dangers of rubber bands, they are conditionally safe for children.
