ABSTRACT
This report describes the exposures to detergents and related products (e.g., borderline disinfectants) managed by the Poison Control Centres of Bergamo and Foggia in the period 2016-2020. Descriptive analysis was conducted using tables and graphs and the differences between population subgroups were analysed using the X2 test. There is an excess of non-hospital calls (70.4%) compared to the expected value, probably influenced by the lockdown 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. A focus for the year 2020 highlighted an excess of exposures to cleaning products (p < 0.05) and borderline disinfectants (p< 0.001) in the months of lockdown. Another focus on exposures to washing machine detergents in soluble packaging for single use confirms that children (< 6 years) have a higher risk to be exposed to these products (< 6 year: 88.1%) compared to other laundry detergents (< 6 years: 66.4%), (p < 0.001), despite the preventive measures provided by the Regulation (EC) no. 1272/2008.