residents went to the hospital after the inadvertent consumption of metal grill brush bristles or fragments between 2002 and 2014.
NEISS data indicates that the most common locations of grill brush bristle injuries are the mouth and throat, but metal grill brush bristles can cause more serious injuries to the lower digestive tract.The CPSC recommends using either nylon grill brushes, which have softer bristles that are less likely to cause injury, or balled-up aluminum foil to clean your grill instead of metal bristle brushes.
If you do choose to use a metal bristle brush to clean your grill, make sure it's a relatively new one, as older ones may be more likely to shed their bristles.