National informative system for surveillance of hazardous exposures and poisonings (SIN-SEPI). surveillance of exposures to detergents: an example of collaboration between the national institute of health, Poison Centers and the ministry of health

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.