title: Poisoning following exposure to chemicals stored in mislabelled or unlabelled containers: a recipe for potential disaster.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate poisoning exposures to chemicals that were unlabelled, mislabelled or not in their original containers in New Zealand over the last 10 years, based on calls to the New Zealand National Poisons Centre (NZNPC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Call data from the NZNPC between 2003 and 2012 were analysed retrospectively. Parameters reviewed included patient age, route and site of exposure, product classification and recommended intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 324,411 calls received between 2003 and 2012, 100,465 calls were associated with acute human exposure to chemicals. There were 757 inquiries related to human exposure to mislabelled or unlabelled chemicals consisting of 0.75% of chemical exposures. Adults were involved in 51% of incidents, children, <5 years 32%, 5-10 years 10%, and adolescents 5%. Child exploratory behaviour was responsible for 38% of calls and adult unintentional exposures 61%. Medical attention was advised in 26% of calls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inadvertent exposure to toxic products stored in unlabelled or mislabelled containers is a problem for all age groups. Although it represents a small proportion of total calls to the NZNPC it remains a potential risk for serious poisoning. It is important that chemicals are stored securely, in their original containers, and never stored in drinking vessels.
authors.affiliation: National Poisons Centre, Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand. yvette@poisons.co.nz.
authors.forename: Yvette C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Millard
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Slaughter
authors.forename: Lucy M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Shieffelbien
authors.forename: Leo J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Schep
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004348:Drug Labeling; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult