2023-09-07 05:53:08
ANSES warns about disinfectants at school. Improper use of these in the toilets or on furniture has caused around a hundred skin injuries, sometimes serious burns, in kindergarten children between 2017 and 2022, warns the National Food Safety Agency. , environment and labor in a report published on Thursday.
After several reports of severe skin damage in young children in the community, the Agency analyzed accidents related to the use of biocidal disinfectants in 2017-2022. Over this period, 118 cases of skin attacks were recorded by poison control centers in children in the community, most often in nursery schools following the disinfection of toilets.
“A child required a skin graft”
“If the skin damage was overwhelmingly of low severity, eleven children nevertheless presented a second degree burn and one child required a skin graft for a third degree burn on the buttock”, points out ANSES.
Endowed with more fragile skin, children under six are the population most affected, “especially little girls, who systematically sit on the toilet bowl”.
A sharp increase during the Covid-19 period
For these accidents, “a sharp increase was observed in 2020 and 2021, most likely linked to the reinforcement of disinfection actions implemented during the Covid-19 epidemic, in particular the disinfection of objects such as tables, chairs, toys,” says ANSES. But new cases were reported in early 2023, which shows that the problem persists, she adds.
“The accidents are mainly linked to errors in the use of disinfectants (lack of rinsing or dilution, product unsuitable for the use made of it, etc.)”, which “could have been favored” by methods of variable use depending on the disinfected surface, instructions for use not available or even confusing mentions on the labels, according to the scientists.
To limit the risk of accidents with disinfectants, ANSES recommends using products suitable for the surfaces, favoring the least dangerous products, ready to use, with clear and simple instructions for use, rinsing the products after application or accidental spillage, do not perform cleaning-disinfection in the presence of children or even train personnel.
In the event of contact with the skin, remove impregnated clothing and wash the skin thoroughly with water. If the contaminated area is large or if skin lesions appear, consult a doctor or call a poison control center.
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