1/22/18 – 6:51 A.M.

Health officials are growing more concerned about the latest viral video trend. Teenagers have been biting into laundry pods to get attention on the internet. The “Tide Pod Challenge” has drawn the attention of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. The agency says they handled 39 cases of intentional exposure to laundry pods among 13- to 19-year-olds in 2016. They’ve already handled that many cases this year.

Dr. Jason Russell is a toxicologist at the poison control center in Columbus, which serves the Findlay area. He tells the Courier the chemicals inside the pods pose risks beyond regular detergent. Russell says laundry pods can cause burns to the esophagus and are also a choking hazard.

Dr. Kevin Johnson is a pediatric doctor at Blanchard Valley Hospital. He tells the newspaper if your child ingests a laundry pod you should not make them try and vomit it out. He adds you take anyone exposed the chemicals to the emergency room immediately.

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