The increase in accidental exposures to disinfectants and antiseptics related to the COVID-19 pandemic during the second lockdown and the first months of 2021

ABSTRACT

Objective: Numerous national and international publications highlight an increase in enquiries for exposures to disinfectants and antiseptics related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The data published in the literature, however, are limited to analyzing the months corresponding to the first period of confinement, while data relating to the second and third pandemic waves are lacking. Our aim was to analyse these exposures in the months following the wave of the pandemic. Methods: We used descriptive statistics to analyse toxicology consultation volumes to hypochlorite bleaches, disinfectants and antiseptic products for the period 1 February 2020-3 May 2020 (first lockdown), 1 October 2020-31 December 2020 (second lockdown) and we compared these data with that relating to the same periods of 2019 and the period 1 February 2021-3 May 2021. Results: Compared to 2019, accidental exposures to all the products considered in the study showed an increase of 67.9% in the period February-May 2020, an increase of 26.3% in the period October-December 2020 and an increase of 16.9% in the period February-May 2021. (Table 1). During the period February-May 2020 the respective increases compared to the same period of 2019 were bleaches (+45.7%), antiseptics (+61.7%), disinfectants (+140.2%);for the period October-December 2020 the respective increases compared to the same period of 2019 were bleaches (+0.3%), antiseptics (+43.2%), disinfectants (+113%). During the period from February to May 2021 compared to 2019 changes were as follows bleaches (-9.7%), antiseptics (+44.3%), disinfectants (+59%). Respiratory symptoms were present in the majority of cases, followed by gastrointestinal, oropharyngeal, ocular and other routes. Conclusion: The data highlight how the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on exposures to antiseptic and disinfectant products in Italy did not end with the first wave, but persists, although with smaller numbers, even in the period of the second wave and in early 2021. (Table Presented).