Why are BuckyBalls illegal?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the toys, which we noted were tiny rare earth magnets that were good for play but bad for a snack, because a few overzealous children swallowed one or two and found themselves in gastrointestinal distress.

Are BuckyBalls illegal in Canada?

OTTAWA — Health Canada is planning to follow the lead of the United States and ban the sale of small, powerful magnets which can cause serious internal problems if swallowed by children.

Is neodymium illegal?

As of January 2017, many brands of magnet spheres including Zen Magnets have resumed the sale of small neodymium magnet spheres following a successful appeal by Zen Magnets in the Tenth Circuit US Court of Appeals which vacated the 2012 CPSC regulation banning these products and thereby rendered the sale of small …

Do rare earth magnets affect electronics?

The strong magnetic fields near neodymium magnets can damage magnetic media such as floppy disks, credit cards, magnetic I.D. cards, cassette tapes, video tapes or other such devices. They can also damage televisions, VCRs, computer monitors and CRT displays. Avoid placing neodymium magnets near electronic appliances.

Are rare earth magnets expensive?

Contrary to what some people believe, rare-earth magnets aren’t particularly expensive.

Are Buckyballs toxic?

They found that even at quite low concentrations in water the buckyballs killed human skin cells. The researchers believe the buckyball is toxic because in water it leads to the formation of an oxygen free radical which reacts with lipid molecules forming the cell membrane surrounding a cell.

Are Neodymium magnets illegal in Canada?

The Department issued a notice to industry in 2013 stating that certain novelty magnet sets, often marketed as desk toys for adults, are considered a danger to human health or safety and therefore their sale in Canada is prohibited under the authority of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.