Despite growing awareness and new regulations, young children around the world continue to face serious health risks from swallowing magnets, according to a recent review published in the journal Injury Prevention.
Researchers found that small, high-powered magnets—often found in toys, gadgets, and household items—are being swallowed by thousands of children globally. Children under the age of 4 are at the highest risk.
Swallowing a single magnet usually doesn’t cause harm. But swallowing multiple magnets or one along with a metallic object can lead to serious internal injuries, including twisted intestines, perforations, and life-threatening infections. Many of these cases require surgery or hospitalization.
Global Review of Magnet Ingestion Cases
To better understand the problem, researchers analyzed data from 96 studies published between 2002 and 2024. These studies included medical records, case volumes, and treatment outcomes involving children up to 18 years old. The data covered incidents in 23 countries, with most reports coming from Asia, the Middle East, North America, and Europe.
The number of reported cases per study ranged from just one to nearly 24,000. The United States alone reported 23,756 cases—the highest total—likely due to more comprehensive reporting systems.
In many countries, including China and the U.S., magnet ingestion cases have increased over time. Boys made up 20% to 86% of cases, and most children were between 2 and 8 years old. Incidents were more common in urban areas and often happened at home, in daycare centers, or at school.
Medical Consequences
Magnets were found throughout the gastrointestinal tract and often caused severe injuries. Children required surgery in many cases, and complications included intestinal blockages, perforations, fistulas, and abscesses.
The rise in cases could be due to actual increases in magnet availability or improved reporting methods. However, researchers warn that the health risks are real and growing.
Policy Gaps and Global Regulations
Out of the 195 countries globally, only 10 had specific policies related to magnet safety. These include Canada, the U.S., the European Union, the UK, France, the UAE, Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.
Some countries, like the UK, UAE, and New Zealand, have banned small magnets completely. Others have imposed limits on magnetic strength or required warning labels. Bans appear to reduce the number of cases.
In the U.S., safety rules introduced in 2014 were overturned in 2016. Following that reversal, magnet ingestion cases increased by 444%. Although new rules were introduced in 2022, they don’t apply to toys for children under 14—the group most at risk.
Urgent Call for Action
“Many countries still lack national policies to restrict access to dangerous magnets,” the researchers warned. “Even where child injuries and deaths have been reported, policies are often missing.”
They acknowledged gaps in the available data. Many minor cases likely go unreported, and studies vary in scope. Still, the review clearly shows that magnet ingestion is a global issue that demands urgent attention.
“Removing magnets from the market is strongly linked to fewer injuries. Policies that ban or strictly regulate these products should be developed, promoted, and enforced,” the authors concluded.
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