Beware of Glitter: It Might Be More Dangerous Than You Think
Not everything that shines is safe. For instance, the glitter tucked away in your craft drawer might actually be harmful.
If you’ve ever tried to clean glitter from a rug, you might understand how tricky it is to remove it from your lungs.
A group of doctors in Argentina encountered this very issue when a three-year-old girl came to the hospital with complaints of “difficulty breathing and altered consciousness,” as noted in a medical report on addiction.
The girl, whose identity remains undisclosed, had accidentally inhaled a significant amount of glitter dust while her family was decorating decorations. Some glitter also got on her skin and in her eyes, and she even swallowed some.
The initial respiratory problems were just the tip of the iceberg. The child experienced vomiting and abdominal pain, and parts of her skin began to turn blue.
Ultimately, she developed serious subcutaneous emphysema, which is when air becomes trapped under the skin, as well as a pneumothorax on the right side of her lung where air leaked into the cavity between the lung and chest wall.
To stabilize her, doctors administered antibiotics and oxygen therapy. She also needed a ventilator for a week but was discharged a week later without further complications.
This situation reminds us of a satirical piece from The Onion back in 2005, humorously discussing “glitter lungs,” a term they coined to highlight potential harm for those continually exposed to crafting materials.
The playful article centered on how glitter particles could accumulate in the air, leading to long-lasting organ damage, almost mimicking the issues plaguing miners.
However, it turns out the concerns aren’t entirely unfounded. Serious toxicity typically requires more than just casual exposure. Interestingly, it’s mostly children who are at higher risk.
Most glitter consists of crushed bronze—an alloy of copper and tin—mixed with zinc or stearin as a binder. This makes it a potentially “severely toxic” material that can pose fatal risks if ingested, particularly by young kids.
Now, while copper and zinc are essential for our health, the way they’re present in glitter shifts them from being beneficial to harmful. Copper, especially, can create free radicals, leading to oxidative stress when it enters the body in this form.
There have been similar cases in recent years. For example, a four-year-old in 2024 ingested “golden mochi powder,” labeled as “non-edible” and “non-toxic,” leading to metallurgical pneumonitis. Months later, scans revealed chronic lung disease.
The FDA has already issued warnings advising against the use of glitter in foods unless specifically made for that purpose.
In a 2022 incident, a 15-month-old was hospitalized for copper poisoning after ingesting glitter. The medical team performed a bronchoscopy that helped the child recover swiftly.
In the latest case involving the three-year-old, doctors noted bronchiectasis at the bases of both lungs three months post-incident, which can lead to recurring respiratory infections. Fortunately, the child seemed stable otherwise.
Doctors are now distinguishing between ultra-fine glitter—what she inhaled—and the coarser glitter that leads to coughing but doesn’t enter the bloodstream the same way.
Consequently, the report’s authors are advocating for tighter restrictions on glitter sales, especially regarding ultra-fine particles found in paint, cosmetics, and crafts that should not be made available to children under 14.
If these recommendations gain traction, you might see changes in craft stores across the nation, potentially promoting safer DIY projects.
