Science
(2006-12-08)
A government study finds at least one child has died, and 19 others needed surgery since 2003. In most cases, the children ate what's known as a "rare earth" magnet, which is tiny, but incredibly strong.
The boy who died was 20-months-old when he ate nine small magnets. An autopsy revealed they had stacked together, twisted his bowel and caused a blood infection.
Officials say the magnets are becoming more common because they're cheap to put into everything from building sets to dolls. Just last month, Mattel recalled millions of Polly Pockets after the feds got 170 reports of kids swallowing magnets that fell off the dolls and accessories.
© Copyright 2012, Associated Press
