engleski

Toxicological aspects of the increased use of disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Croatia

Prevention strategies for COVID-19 include regular use of surface disinfectants and hand sanitisers. We analysed records of suspected/symptomatic poisonings with disinfectants and sanitisers from the Croatian Poison Control Centre during the first 6 months of 2019, 2020, and 2021 to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic in this regard. Cases of exposure to disinfectants doubled in the first 6 months of 2020 in comparison with 2019 (41 vs 21 cases, respectively), but decreased in the first 6 months of 2021 (14 cases). Compared to 2019, exposure to sanitisers increased about 9 times in 2020 (5 vs 46 cases, respectively) and 2021 (5 vs 44 cases, respectively). The most common ingredients of the disinfectants and sanitisers involved in poisoning incidents were hypochlorite/glutaraldehyde and ethanol/isopropanol, respectively. In 2020 and 2021, exposure to disinfectants was recorded mostly in adults (55 %), as unintentional exposure (80 %) via ingestion or inhalation (87 %), with mild symptoms in 45 % (gastrointestinal or respiratory irritation) and severe symptoms in 2% (gastrointestinal corrosion) of cases. Exposure to sanitisers was recorded mostly in toddlers and preschool children (69 %), as unintentional exposure (88 %) via ingestion or eye contact (97 %), and mild symptoms developed in 24 % of cases (gastrointestinal or eye irritation, somnolence, and excitation). In conclusion, the increased availability and use of disinfectants and sanitisers in Croatia during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase of potentially toxic exposures. Measures to avoid the toxic effects of biocides should be included in the epidemiological recommendations for the prevention of COVID-19

corrosive injury ; ethanol ; hand sanitisers ; hypochlorite ; preschool children

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