Recall Of Flammable Aerosol `String' Expands To 5 Manufacturers

WASHINGTON - Not long ago, manufacturers of the sticky aerosol ``string'' popular with kids changed the can's ingredients to eliminate a chemical that depletes the earth's ozone layer.

It seemed like a nice environmental gesture - until reports came in that the new propellant turned into a 3-foot fireball when kids sprayed it around open flames, such as the candles on birthday cakes.

According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), at least seven children have suffered burns in the past three months. As a result, five firms announced yesterday the voluntary recall of more than 1.5 million cans of the fluorescent, gooey string that kids use like confetti at parties.

``We had the option of choosing one of two propellants. The one we chose was ozone-friendly, and we knew it was slightly flammable - but not that flammable,'' said Bill Carey, owner of Northeast Imports, maker of Streamer Spray.

``The manufacturers just did not foresee the use of this product around a flame,'' said David Schmeltzer, the CPSC's director for compliance. The commission banned further production of the string until a non-flammable propellant is substituted.

The commission said five of the incidents involved children younger than 10. In all seven occurrences, the children suffered first-, second- and third-degree burns on their hands and faces.

``It was like an explosion without any sound. The candles just blew up, and the flames shot up at least two feet,'' said Sheila Sheppard of Clarksville, Tenn., whose 6-year-old son, Michael, was burned at his birthday party in November.

``He has no scars, but we're still waiting for his hair to grow back. And he won't go near a birthday cake,'' Sheppard said.

The Sheppards videotaped Michael's birthday party, and the recording helped prompt the voluntary recall. E. Davis Inc. recalled nearly 3 million cans of Extra Thick Super String in January, and five other companies announced yesterday they were recalling similar products.

Some companies stopped using chlorofluorocarbon 11 as long as six years ago and replaced it with flammable dimephyl ether. Most manufacturers, however, made the switch in the past year amid intensifying public concern about depletion of the ozone layer.

Many of the cans do include directions that warn against using them near fire, but 4-year-old Ashley Roy of Manchester, N.H., was badly burned when the can's aerosol rekindled candles that she had just blown out.

``We were following the directions the whole time,'' said Mary Roy, Ashley's mother. ``It's like a flame-thrower when you squeeze that stuff out of a can.''

For a full

refund

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends consumers return any old cans of aerosol ``string'' for a full refund from the store where they were purchased. The products are:

-- 3.5-ounce cans of ``Streamer Spray,'' distributed by Northeast Imports Inc. of Central Falls, R.I. The cans have a lithographed or paper label with a green background.

-- 150-gram cans of ``Masquerade Crazy Strings,'' distributed by Masquerade Novelties of Brooklyn, N.Y. The cans have a lithographed label with a white background.

-- 3.5-ounce cans of ``Tricky Fun String,'' distributed by Topstone Industries Inc. of Danbury, Conn. Only cans with labels reading ``Tricky Fun String Environmentally Safe Contains No Fluorocarbons'' are being recalled.

-- 3.5-ounce cans of ``Goofy Flying String,'' distributed by Franco-American Novelty Co. of Glendale, N.Y. The cans have a lithographed label with a blue background.

-- 3.5-ounce and 7-ounce cans of ``It's Fun Time! String Confetti,'' distributed by the Fun World Division of Carle Place, N.Y., The recall only involves cans with an added clear adhesive label reading ``Safe For The Environment Fluorocarbon Free'' or cans whose adhesive label has been removed.

Knight-Ridder Newspapers