AIM: To investigate @entity4968 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 @entity1 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 @entity1 exposure to chemicals. There were 757 inquiries related to @entity1 exposure to mislabelled or unlabelled chemicals consisting of 0.75% of chemical exposures. Adults were involved in 51% of incidents, @entity1 , <5 years 32%, 5-10 years 10%, and adolescents 5%. @entity1 exploratory behaviour was responsible for 38% of calls and adult unintentional exposures 61%. Medical attention was advised in 26% of calls. CONCLUSION: 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 @entity4968 . It is important that chemicals are stored securely, in their original containers, and never stored in drinking vessels.

XXXX following exposure to chemicals stored in mislabelled or unlabelled containers: a recipe for potential disaster.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Child', 'children', 'human', 'patient'] @entity4968 :: ('MESH:D011041', 'Disease') :: ['poisoning']
@entity4968 :: (MESH:D011041,Disease) :: ['Poisoning']
