Ugly Ducklings: Should Your Rubber Duck Be Banned From The Bath? (Video)

Rubber duckies are full of bacteria, according to new findings from Swiss and American researchers. Buzz60’s Sean Dowling has more.

Scientific curiosity knows no bounds: a group of Swiss and US researchers have delved into “the dark side” of inviting rubber ducks and other flexible plastic toys into our tubs.

Any plastic materials dunked in bathwater provide ideal conditions for bacterial and fungal growth, according to the conclusions of the joint study, published Tuesday by the Swiss government.

“Dense growths of bacteria and fungi are found on the inner surface of these flexible toys, and a murky liquid will often be released when they are squeezed by a child,” the Swiss government statement said.

The researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology EAWAG, the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School and the University of Illinois found that “diverse microbial growth is promoted not only by the plastic materials but by bath users themselves.”

For their study, they carried out experiments with real bath toys and controls using new bath toys under conditions simulating household use.