Poker players warned about formaldehyde in playing cards
Poker players in China have been warned that they could die if they continue to play cards
| by Alligator Blood |  January, 29th 2011 |
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![Poker players have been warned about some cards [not ones shown]](http://www.pokerjolt.com/img/pictures/451/495.jpg)
Above: Poker players have been warned about some cards [not ones shown]
Poker players in China have been warned that playing Texas Hold'em could kill them after formaldehyde was found in nearly a fifth of playing cards.
The deadly toxin was found in five of 30 popular poker cards on the market that were tested.
Huang Lai-ho from the Chinese Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) said: "A total of five out of the 30 tested poker cards were found to contain an above-standard amount of free-formaldehyde"
Playing cards in China can legally contain 75 parts per million of the carcinogenic chemical. But one of those tested contained a staggering 612 ppm - seven times the safe amount.
The World Health Organisation has previously warned that formaldehyde is one of the main causes of cancer globally.
The Chinese authorities insisted that the makers of the dangerous playing cards will have to recall their products - or face the consequences.
Poker players who have used the affected products have been advised to wash their hands and keep out of reach of children.
