Careless handling of biocides, such as poison and disinfectants, can cause serious poisoning, especially in children, experts warned on Thursday at a press conference devoted to these products in Warsaw.
The conference as part of the Safe Drug campaign was organized by the Office for Registration of Medicinal Products, Medical Devices and Biocidal Products.
Biocidal products are used to destroy, deter, neutralize or otherwise combat harmful organisms by means other than purely physical or mechanical, said the vice-president of the Office, Barbara Jaworska-Łuczak. These include hygienic, disinfecting and preserving preparations.
The active substances in biocidal products may be irritating, corrosive or have a systemic effect on systems and organs. As much as 90 percent poisoning with biocides takes place at home, and the most vulnerable group are children up to 5 years of age (50 percent of all poisonings with biocides).
Some biocides have been recognized as safe (lavender oil, citric acid or ethyl alcohol), while others – very toxic – do not resign from the lack of a safer alternative. An example given by the national consultant in the field of toxicology, Dr. Piotr Burda, is anticoagulants (agents that inhibit blood clotting), usually derivatives of warfarin, used in the control of rodents. Under their influence, rats or mice bleed quickly – a similar effect may occur in humans after consuming a higher dose.
As emphasized by the participants of the conference, biocides should be used only when they are necessary. The sterility of bathrooms promoted in advertising is unattainable and unnecessary, and attempts to achieve it can be harmful. For example, mixing hypochlorite-containing agents with acidic preparations leads to the release of irritating, poisonous chlorine, which in people with lung disease can lead to dangerous bronchospasm.
You always have to read the label or the leaflet – said president Jaworska-Łuczak. Children and uninformed persons should not be allowed to come into contact with biocidal products. This is to be prevented by properly secured closures of the original packaging – that is why you should not use replacement containers, and especially keep the product in a non-original packaging in a place where food is stored.
Professional preparations that should not be used at home can have a particularly strong effect (poisoning in the workplace is rare and accounts for only 4% of all poisonings with biocides). In the event of disturbing symptoms, you must immediately consult a doctor – who can consult one of the XNUMX-hour Toxicological Information Centers at any time.
Poisonings can be accidental, suicidal, occupational or criminal. Dr. Burda drew attention to the importance of toxicovigilance – careful observation of poisoning events, their assessment, drawing conclusions and modifying further procedures. Knowing the circumstances of poisoning, the dose, effects and health consequences, appropriate steps can be taken to prevent further poisoning.
As Dr. Burda said, accidental poisoning is the most common among children under 5 years of age. Rat poison and corrosive preparations such as moles in granules or liquid, which, if swallowed, destroy the esophagus, are particularly dangerous. A few years ago, there were serious poisonings with a preparation for impregnating wood, illegally introduced on the market. Among the fatalities were not only a few several-year-old children, but also a 17-year-old boy who came across a cola bottle with brown liquid. One sip of the preparation, containing too many toxic compounds, was enough.
Dr. Burda also pointed out that the recent snails plague in southern Poland has caused many poisoning among dogs with agents containing metaldehyde with slugicidal preparations.
In the event of poisoning, the doctor must be carefully informed about the type of poison – what matters is the composition of the preparation, its name and manufacturer. It is best to take the product packaging with you to the doctor. If we find a preparation in the store without appropriate markings, with a label that does not state the manufacturer or the composition and information about approval for use, we should notify the appropriate inspection – said Dr. Burda. (PAP)