title: Use of sanitizing products: safety practices and risk situations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to evaluate the handling and risk factors for poisoning and/or digestive tract injuries associated with the use of sanitizing products at home.
  
  
  METHODS
  interviews were conducted in 419 households from different regions, collecting epidemiological data from residents and risk habits related to the use and storage of cleaning products.
  
  
  RESULTS
  sanitizing products considered to be a health risk were found in 98% of the households where the research was conducted, and in 54% of cases, they were stored in places easily accessible to children. Lye was found in 19%, followed by illicit products in 39% of homes. In 13% of households, people produced soap, and in 12% they stored products in non-original containers. The use of illicit products and the manufacture of handmade soap were associated with lower educational level of the household owners and with the regions and socioeconomic classes with lower purchasing power.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  risk practices such as inadequate storage, manufacturing, and use of sanitizing products by the population evidence the need for public health policies, including educational measures, as a means of preventing accidents.
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Hospital da Criança de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil. Electronic address: anaaureliars@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Ana Aurélia Rocha da
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Hospital da Criança de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Raquel Souza
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Passos
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Simeoni
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences, Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco de Assis Rocha
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Hospital da Criança de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa de
authors.initials: Ed
authors.lastname: Carvalho
mesh_terms: D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002424:Caustics / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006795:Household Products / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019064:Product Packaging; D012307:Risk Factors; D012449:Safety; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D002424:Caustics; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide
keywords: Accident prevention; Caustics; Corrosive; Corrosivos; Cáusticos; Grupos de risco; Prevenção de acidentes; Produtos saneantes; Risk groups; Sanitizing products