The use of magnets as 'fake' tongue piercings and jewellery is seeing young people needing surgery after swallowing the metal objects. The trend is also putting people at risk of serious infection, lifelong digestive disorders, or even death.
A campaign highlighting the risks of swallowing magnets has been launched by the The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS). The #SafeFashion campaign, which launched today (Monday, April 11), is asking young people and their parents to learn more about the dangers of magnets when used as fashion accessories by children and young people.
Instances where the magnets have detached and been swallowed have led to the need for surgery and can cause serious complications - with the risk of fatalities. When two or more of the small ball magnets are swallowed, they can stick together, causing damage to the digestive system.
