Rubber Ducks and Plastic Toys
Bath toys may be a repository for bacteria and fungi, some potentially pathogenic, according to a Swiss study in 2018. For instance, 80 percent of rubber ducks were found to be contaminated with bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can cause ear, eye, and other infections. Microbes can thrive on these toys because they feed on the carbon leached from their material as well as on nutrients (from urine and sweat) in bathwater trapped inside them.
Remedy: Wash bath toys with hot water and soap. Even better, avoid squeeze toys that have a hole that allows water to enter.