title: Aerosol container-related eye injuries in the United States: 1997-2009.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify and characterize eye injuries related to aerosol container consumer products treated in United States hospital emergency departments (EDs) from 1997 through 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive analysis of aerosol container-related eye injury data derived from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a stratified probability sample of hospital-affiliated United States EDs. Data collected included demographic variables (gender and age), locale, diagnoses, and hospital disposition associated with aerosol container-related eye injuries treated in United States EDs from 1997 through 2009. Products associated with injury and mechanisms of injury also were extracted and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were an estimated 10 765 (95% confidence interval [CI], 9842 to 11 688) visits to United States EDs for aerosol container-related eye injuries during the study period; 6756 (95% CI, 5771 to 7742; 63%) patients were male; 5927 (95% CI, 4956 to 6897; 55%) injuries occurred in children (age < 18 years). The most common product was spray paint, accounting for 2048 (95% CI, 1402 to 2694; 19%) injuries. The most common mechanism of injury was self-inflicted spray to the eye, occurring in 4649 (95% CI, 3746 to 5552; 43%) cases. The most common diagnosis was dermatitis or conjunctivitis, occurring in 3880 (95% CI, 2995 to 4765; 36%) cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that most aerosol container-related eye injuries in the United States occur in men and children and that self-inflicted spray to the eye is the most common mechanism of injury. Further research is needed to devise effective prevention strategies for these types of injuries.
authors: Department of Community Health, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02908, USA.
authors: Carly J
authors: CJ
authors: Seidman
authors: James G
authors: JG
authors: Linakis
authors: Michael J
authors: MJ
authors: Mello
authors: Paul B
authors: PB
authors: Greenberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols