A phenomenon in the United States, colored races are arriving in France. Dangerous for some, according to researchers, the powders used are safe for the organizers.
Launched in 2012 in the United States, the “Color Me Rad” is a 5 km race, inspired by the Indian national holiday “ Holi “. The concept is simple: at every kilometer, the participants cross the “Color Stations” where volunteers color them from head to toe using powder. “On arrival, prepare for a multicolored explosion”, warn the French organizers on their website. The next dates planned in France are April 10 in Montpellier, May 8 in Lyon and May 22 in Rennes. And as registrations pile up, scientists are warning about the potential risks of some of these races.
The firefighters of Ille-et-Vilaine (35) indeed asked two student researchers of the Rennes National School of Chemistry (ENSCR) to conduct a study on the risks of ignition and explosion of dust generated by the colored cornstarch used during these events, as well as on their harmfulness to health.
To justify their concern, they recall the dramatic accident that occurred in a water park in Taiwan on June 27. That day, a coloring powder spread over the crowd ignited, killing 14 people and burning nearly 500.
Fire and skin risks
And the work of young Breton scientists concludes that certain colored dust can indeed present a danger in very specific cases. “In contact with an energy source, such as electric sound systems or pyrotechnic fires within the framework of a festival, the propagation of a flame in the cloud of particles dispersed in the air can cause ignition or even the explosion of dust ”, writing Paola Martin and Da Shi in their conclusions, widely reported by the media.
In addition, the two students claim that cornstarch can cause “skin irritation such as eczema or hives, or even allergic shock.” These colored powders could also cause “serious respiratory problems due to the inhalation of fine particles”. Without questioning the use of these products, the two students therefore recommend “the wearing of protective glasses and dust masks” for the participants. And “these powders must be used outdoors and be kept away from potential ignition sources,” they warn.
Not the same powder according to the organizers
Unnecessary precautions according to the French organizers. On their Facebook page, they claim that the powder they use on their run is not harmful. They claim that it has been certified by analyzes carried out by professional bodies. Two tests would have been ordered by them.
First of all CNPP tests (against flammability / explosion) by the reference body in France on the prevention and control of risks. “These tests established by experts show categorically that the powder used by us does not present any risk of flammability or explosion”, they write.
But also SGS tests (toxicity), established by SGS Laboratories, “which also prove that the product is considered safe”.
Finally, they insist on the fact that the powder used during their races, “Color Me Rad 5k” (imported from India, made of cornstarch and used by Hindus for decades on the occasion of the festival of Holi) is guaranteed to be “non-allergenic, non-flammable and harmless to the environment. The studies carried out by these students were carried out on a powder manufactured by a supplier with whom we do not work ”, they conclude.
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