The Impact of COVID-19 on Calls made to Canadian Poison Centres Regarding Cleaning Products and Disinfectants: A Population Based Retrospective Interrupted Time-Series Study One Year before and after the WHO's Pandemic Declaration
- DOI
- Language of the publication
- English
- Date
- 2022-02-07
- Type
- Article
- Author(s)
- Yasseen, Abdool S.
- Dobbin, Nina
- Weiss, Deborah
- Gu, Chunli
- Khan, Sara
- Rowe, Ashley
- Wan, Victoria
- Bogeljic, Bojana
- Leong, Dennis
- Mosher, Laurie
- Belair, Guillaume
- Button, Brooke
- Hardy, James
- Perwaiz, Shahid
- Smith, Alysyn
- Lawless, Shawn
- Thompson, Margaret
- Wootton, Richard
- Publisher
- LONGDOM
Abstract
Objective: To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rates of exposure calls related to cleaning products and disinfectants made to Canadian poison centers, one year into the pandemic. Methods: Using data obtained from Canadian poison centers between March 2019 and March 2022 regarding hand sanitizers, disinfectants, bleaches, chlorine gas, and chloramine gas, we applied an interrupted time series design to evaluate changes before and after the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Call rates were estimated as the number of cleaning products and disinfectants calls divided by the total number of exposures at monthly time intervals, and changes were assessed at 6 and 12 months after the WHO’s declaration. We additionally conducted a stratified analysis by patient age groups (≤ 19 years and >19 years). Results: A total of 396,041 exposures were reported to the five Canadian poison centers, of which 5,669 (1.4%) were for hand sanitizers, 3375 (0.9%) for disinfectants, 7022 (1.8%) for bleaches, 2205 (0.6%) for chlorine gas, and 369 (0.1%) for chloramine gas exposures. Those most often exposed to hand sanitizers were ≤ 19 years of age, whereas those >19 years of age were more often exposed to bleaches, chlorine and chloramine gas. One year after the WHO declaration, exposures to hand sanitizers, chlorine gas, and chloramine gas have yet to return to pre-pandemic rates, showing an increase of 169% (95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 125, 214), 35% (95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 19, 51), and 108% (95% Confidence Intervals (CI): 26, 191) from pre-pandemic rates, respectively. Conclusions: After an initial increase in calls related to cleaning products and disinfectants, calls related to the use of some products have returned to pre-pandemic levels, whereas others remain elevated. We identified a correlation between national public health response and reduction in calls made to poison centers, but further work is needed to determine why the numbers have not returned to baseline.
Plain language summary
Health Canada is responsible for the assessment and management of health risks to Canadians associated with exposure to chemicals in the environment. Health Canada previously reported on a rise in calls made to Canadian poison centres for medical treatment advice/guidance on exposures to cleaning products and disinfectants at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This follow-up paper, examines whether reporting of these products remain elevated or have subsided to pre-pandemic levels, one year after the World Health Organization (WHO)’s declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic. Using Canadian poison centre data between March 2019 and March 2021 regarding hand sanitisers, disinfectants, bleaches, chlorine gas, and chloramine gas, this paper examined the changes before and after March 2020. In this time period, a total of 396,041 exposure calls were made to the five Canadian poison centres, of which 5,669 (1.4%) were for hand sanitisers, 3375 (0.9%) for disinfectants, 7022 (1.8%) for bleaches, 2205 (0.6%) for chlorine gas, and 369 (0.1%) for chloramine gas exposures. Those most often exposed to hand sanitisers were 19 years of age or less, whereas those older than 19 years of age were more often exposed to bleaches, chlorine and chloramine gas. Results show that one year after the WHO declaration of a pandemic, hand sanitisers, chlorine gas, and chloramine gas have yet to return to pre-pandemic rates, showing increases of 169%, 35%, and 108% from pre-pandemic rates, respectfully. Health Canada continues to monitor reported cases of hand sanitisers, disinfectants, bleaches, chlorine gas, and chloramine gas exposures through ongoing surveillance activities.
Subject
- Health,
- Health and safety