Detergents - useful or dangerous. Discussion of the toxic effects of detergents based on studies

Abstract

Introduction and purpose:
 Soap is an everyday, much-needed, widely available product that helps prevent the spread of infectious diseases due to its bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties. Despite the positive qualities, soap and detergents contribute to damage of the skin barrier, cause inflammation and other serious consequences. The purpose of this work is to draw attention to the dangers of improper use of household detergents and to educate how to prevent negative consequences from them through preventive measures or rapid response in an exposure situation.
 Material and methods: The study was retrospective in nature. It used an analysis of the records of 11707 intoxications in patients hospitalized from 01.01.2013 to 31.12.2022 in the Clinical Department of Toxicology and Cardiology of the Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski Regional Hospital in Lublin, from which the group of people poisoned by soap and detergents (T55) was distinguished, consisting of 36 cases.
 Results: The study population consisted of 18 (50%) women and 18 (50%)men. The largest group consisted of patients between the ages of 21 and 30, with 7 patients (19.44%), and between the ages of 31 and 40, also with 7 patients (19.44%), with a male predominance of 71.43%. In most cases (61.11%), people poisoned by soap suffered from chronic diseases. The average duration of hospitalization was 85.09h (3.54 days).
 Conclusions: Soap, despite its many positive features, can contribute to poisoning. Particularly vulnerable groups are children and the elderly. In order to reduce the number of complications in the community, there should be increased funding for prevention, education of families, school children and GPs on how to deal with poisoning situations.