Event-Based Surveillance of Poisonings and Potentially Hazardous Exposures over 12 Months of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen people and governments utilise an array of chemical and pharmaceutical substances in an attempt to prevent and treat COVID-19 infections. The Centre for Radiation, Chemicals and Environmental Hazards (CRCE) at Public Health England (PHE) routinely undertakes Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) to monitor public health threats and incidents related to chemicals and poisons. From April 2020, EBS functions were expanded to screen international media for potentially hazardous exposures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Media sources reported that poisons centres were experiencing increased enquiries associated with the use and misuse of household cleaners and alcohol-based hand sanitiser (HS). There were also media reports of people self-medicating with over-the-counter supplements and traditional or herbal remedies. Public figures who directly or indirectly facilitated misinformation were sometimes reported to be associated with changes in poisoning trends. Border closures were also believed to have been associated with increasingly toxic illicit drug supplies in Canada, and record numbers of opioid-related deaths were reported. In other countries, where the sale of alcohol was banned or limited, home-brewing and methanol-based supplies resulted in a number of fatalities. At least two chemical incidents also occurred at industrial sites in India, after sites were left unattended or were closed and reopened due to lockdown measures. Reports of poisoning identified in the international media were provided to the UK National Poisons Information Service (NPIS) and contributed to the UK COVID-19 public health response.

Susceptibility to COVID-19 Nutrition Misinformation and Eating Behavior Change during Lockdowns: An International Web-Based Survey

“…Cleaning food products with soapy water or diluted bleach, and gargling bleach are hazardous practices that should be avoided as they can lead to poisoning and corrosive tissue injury [ 33 , 34 , 35 ] with symptoms such as sinus, eye, or skin irritation, upset stomach, nausea, dizziness, headaches, and breathing problems [ 13 ]. About one year after our study, a retrospective 12-month global surveillance review [ 36 ] reported multiple poisoning events and potentially hazardous practices engaged in the false hope of preventing or treating COVID-19, including the misuse of household cleaning products to sanitize food or to act in lieu of medicine [ 7 ].…”

“…Research on vitamin C and vitamin D status remains ongoing on the grounds that their deficiency may be associated with increased susceptibility to COVID-19 infection and to potentially more severe or prolonged symptoms once infected [ 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 ]. Because medical prescription is not needed for their procurement, misinformed assurances with silent contraindications about vitamin supplements could lead to harmful intakes, unsafe combinations, and misuse by the public, as seen in hypervitaminosis and intoxication case reports during the global pandemic [ 36 , 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 , 88 , 89 ].…”

“…Although most may appear unimportant, regional offices of the World Health Organization aimed to debunk several of these myths, in particular pointing out that alcoholic drinks do not preclude or stop a COVID-19 infection and that harmful use increases health risks [ 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 , 103 , 104 , 105 ]. At this time, methanol (disguised as regular alcohol by bootleggers) underlied 5876 hospitalizations and nearly 800 deaths in Iran alone [ 6 , 14 , 36 , 106 ].…”

Ivermectin exposures reported to the Poisons Information Helpline in South Africa during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…[15] The same trend has been seen by other poisons information centres and toxicovigilance reporting authorities across the world. [17,18] It is likely that the increase in ivermectin exposure calls is related to growing pressure by advocacy groups to allow access to ivermectin for use against COVID-19, as well as increasing off-label prescribing of ivermectin by healthcare professionals. [19][20][21] Reports describe not only increasing use of ivermectin, but also inappropriate use of veterinary formulations, adulteration of available products, and prescription of untrialled dose regimens.…”

The Impact of Covid -19 on Physical and Mental Health of Children: A Descriptive Study

“…More than 330 million youngsters have been stuck at home, till March 2021, for at least nine months, since the virus spread uncontrollably this time last year. 5,6 It has become difficult for parents to calm their children's anxieties because of the uncertainty and stress in their own lives. The occupational or emotional challenges parents face is interfering with their usual ability to address their children's needs and worries.…”