Taiwanese officials have warned that they have found Poker Cards with dangerous levels of chemical that could be hazardous to the health of the people using them.

Playing card games have become a common way to celebrate the Chinese New Year and officials are concerned the dangerous cards could affect people. According to a recent study, about 17% of all poker cards on the market in Taipei contained unhealthy amounts of the chemical formaldehyde.

The research by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI) said that five out of 30 brands of poker cards had higher chemical levels than permitted by the government. According to the law in Taiwanese, paper products may contain up to 75 parts per million (ppm) of formaldehyde but some of the cards tested contained much higher level of the chemical.

BSMI officials said that individuals who inhale or touch high levels of formaldehyde can suffer effects like skin allergies. The officials have asked the manufacturers to of such cards to recall and any company that does not recall the cards will be fined immediately.

BSMI has advised the people to buy cards with clear labels and avoid any that seem to have a chemical odor. It also advised card players to wash their hands after playing and keep the cards away from young children.