US Consumer Product Safety Commission Research Articles

Use of Generative AI to Identify Helmet Status Among Patients With Micromobility-Related Injuries From Unstructured Clinical Notes

Large language models (LLMs) have potential to increase the efficiency of information extraction from unstructured clinical notes in electronic medical records. To assess the utility and reliability of an LLM, ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI), to analyze clinical narratives and identify helmet use status of patients injured in micromobility-related accidents. This cross-sectional study used publicly available, deidentified 2019 to 2022 data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a nationally representative stratified probability sample of 96 hospitals in the US. Unweighted estimates of e-bike, bicycle, hoverboard, and powered scooter-related injuries that resulted in an emergency department visit were used. Statistical analysis was performed from November 2023 to April 2024. Patient helmet status (wearing vs not wearing vs unknown) was extracted from clinical narratives using (1) a text string search using researcher-generated text strings and (2) the LLM by prompting the system with low-, intermediate-, and high-detail prompts. The level of agreement between the 2 approaches across all 3 prompts was analyzed using Cohen κ test statistics. Fleiss κ was calculated to measure the test-retest reliability of the high-detail prompt across 5 new chat sessions and days. Performance statistics were calculated by comparing results from the high-detail prompt to classifications of helmet status generated by researchers reading the clinical notes (ie, a criterion standard review). Among 54 569 clinical notes, moderate (Cohen κ = 0.74 [95% CI, 0.73-0.75) and weak (Cohen κ = 0.53 [95% CI, 0.52-0.54]) agreement were found between the text string-search approach and the LLM for the low- and intermediate-detail prompts, respectively. The high-detail prompt had almost perfect agreement (κ = 1.00 [95% CI, 1.00-1.00]) but required the greatest amount of time to complete. The LLM did not perfectly replicate its analyses across new sessions and days (Fleiss κ = 0.91 across 5 trials; P < .001). The LLM often hallucinated and was consistent in replicating its hallucinations. It also showed high validity compared with the criterion standard (n = 400; κ = 0.98 [95% CI, 0.96-1.00]). This study's findings suggest that although there are efficiency gains for using the LLM to extract information from clinical notes, the inadequate reliability compared with a text string-search approach, hallucinations, and inconsistent performance significantly hinder the potential of the currently available LLM.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ocular trauma in American infants and toddlers

To assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant and toddler ocular trauma in the United States. This retrospective analysis of ocular injury data for children ≤3 years of age focused on epidemiologic trends in pediatric ocular injuries in the United States caused by consumer products from 2017 to 2021 and compared differences between pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) time periods. Data were collected from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, which includes emergency department visits caused by consumer product-related injuries from a nationally representative sample of hospitals. The national-level estimate of ocular injuries in infants and toddlers was 51,250 (95% CI, 30471-72030). Most injuries occurred at home. We found a significant decline in the proportion of projectile ocular injuries from 0.89% (95% CI, 0.35-2.25) to 0.12% (95% CI, 0.03-0.45) (P = 0.037). The proportion of patients diagnosed with chemical-burn-related injuries increased significantly, from 23.34% (95% CI, 19.73-27.38) in the pre-pandemic period to 31.63% (95% CI, 26.98-36.69) in the pandemic period (P=0.048), with 71.75% (95% CI, 65.25-77.46) due to cleaning products. After adjusting for confounding variables, the odds of sustaining a chemical-burn-related injury in the post-pandemic period were 1.51 times higher than in the pre-pandemic period (95% CI, 1.10-2.08). The proportion of children diagnosed with chemical-burn-related injuries increased significantly in the post-pandemic period, with a large portion due to cleaning products.

The epidemiology of crib-related head injuries: A ten-year nationwide analysis

IntroductionFalls from cribs resulting in head injury are understudied and poorly characterized. The purpose of this study was to advance current understanding of the prevalence, descriptive characteristics of injury victims, and the types of crib fall-related head injuries (CFHI) using queried patient cases from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database. MethodsUsing the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's System NEISS database, we queried all CFHIs among children from over 100 emergency departments (EDs). Patient information regarding age, race, sex, location of the incident, diagnoses, ED disposition, and sequelae were analyzed. The number of CFHI from all US EDs during each year was also collected from the database. ResultsThere were an estimated 54,799 (95% CI: 30,228–79,369) total visits to EDs for CFHIs between 2012 and 2021, with a decrease in incidence of approximately 20% during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (2019: 5616 cases, 2020: 4459 cases). The annual incidence of injuries showed no significant trend over the 10-year study period. An available subset of 1782 cases of head injuries from approximately 100 EDs was analyzed, and 1442 cases were included in final analysis. Injuries were sorted into three primary categories: unspecified closed head injury (e.g., closed head injury, blunt head trauma, or traumatic brain injury), concussion, or open head injury and skull fracture. Unspecified closed head injuries were the most common of all head injuries (95.4%, 1376/1442). Open head injuries (14/1442, 0.97%) and concussions 3.6% (52/1442, 3.6%) were rare. Most injuries involved children under the age of 1 (42.6%) compared to children who were 1, 2, 3, or 4-years old. About a fourth of patients had other diagnoses in addition to their primary injury including scalp/forehead hematomas, emesis, and contusions. Female patients were more likely to present with other diagnoses in addition to their primary head injury (Difference: 12.3%, 95% CI: 9.87%–15.4%, p < .0001). ConclusionDespite minimum rail height requirements set by the Consumer Safety Product Commission (CPSC), head injuries associated with crib falls are prevalent in the United States. However, most injuries were minor with a vast majority of patients being released following examination and treatment.

Classifying chemicals into toxicity categories based on LC50 values- Pros and cons

Classifying chemicals into toxicity categories based on LC50 values- Pros and cons

Injuries Due to Law Enforcement Use of Force in the United States, 2006-2015: Trends in Severity and by Race.

The purpose of the study was to assess incidence and severity of hospital reported injuries related to law enforcement Use of Force (UoF) in the US over time, and by race. Data from the National Emergency Department Sample from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS-AIP) from US Consumer Product Safety Commission were queried to identify UoF injuries. Regression analysis, t-tests, and chi-square tests were used in the analysis. Between 2006-15, there were 529,259 emergency department admissions for UoF injury in the NEDS, and 870,779 admissions in the NEISS-AIP. In a model adjusting for year, sex, and age, the Injury Severity Score increased by 1.1% annually (p<0.0001). Black people were 6 times as likely to be admitted to the ED as White people or Native Americans/Alaska Natives, and 25 times as likely as Asians/Pacific Islanders. Black patients were 4 times as likely as White patients to be admitted as inpatients. Per arrest rate by race using FBI uniform crime reporting data, Black arrestees were 2.5-3.1 times as likely as any other race to be hospitalized for UoF injury. The results of the study demonstrate that US law enforcement are injuring civilians more frequently and severely over time, and that Black people are disproportionately affected.

Pediatric Concussions in Female Contact Sports: A 10-Year Analysis of Mechanisms and Associated Symptoms

Background: Increased popularity and accessibility for female athletes has led to an increased incidence of sports-related injuries. Concussions make up a significant proportion of sports injuries and are associated with immediate and long-term consequences for youth athletes. However, despite the increasing participation in female contact sports, there is relatively little research on gender-specific characteristics in concussions. The objective of this study is to describe the characteristics, mechanisms of injury (MOI), and associated symptoms of pediatric female patients diagnosed with concussions from contact sports. Methods: The National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission was queried from 2012-2021 for concussions evaluated in emergency departments (EDs) sustained by athletes aged 4 to 18. The contact sports analyzed included Basketball, Cheerleading, Gymnastics, Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, and Volleyball. Demographics, incidence rates, mechanism of injury, and associated symptoms were analyzed for each sport during the study period. Results: There were 3,906 female athletes who sustained concussions from 2012-2021 from contact sports with a national estimate of 87,468. Most sports-related concussions were treated as outpatients (97.4%). From 2012-2019 there were no significant differences in the number of concussions, while 2020 and 2021 saw a significantly lower number of concussions. Soccer had the greatest number of concussions at 34.1%, followed by basketball 21%, and Softball 14.1%. The most common MOI was player-to-player contact (1214, 31%) and head-to-ground (1103, 28.2%). MOI was sport specific with soccer and basketball having the highest proportion of player-to-player and gymnastics and cheerleading comprising mostly head-to-ground injuries. Loss of consciousness (LOC) was reported in 5.5% of concussions with hockey having the highest rate at 6.9%. The most frequently reported associated symptoms were headache/head pain (41.1%), dizziness (28.12%), and confusion (9.2%). Conclusion: There was a significant decrease in the number of concussions in 2020 and 2021 compared to 2012-2019, which may be attributed to social restrictions that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and raises concerns for undertreatment of concussions in female contact sports. Mechanism of injury in female concussions is sport specific with high rates of player-to player and player-to-ground injuries. Finally, there were no significant differences in symptom presentation among the different contact sports analyzed. Athletes, coaches, and physicians aware of common symptoms and mechanisms of injury for each sport can better develop preventative strategies and improve patient care for concussions in female contact sports.

Associations Between Prenatal Urinary Biomarkers of Phthalate Exposure and Preterm Birth: A Pooled Study of 16 US Cohorts

ABSTRACT Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal mortality. Preterm birth is a public health burden, particularly in the United States, where approximately 10% of deliveries are preterm. Although the underlying cause of most preterm births is unknown, environmental chemical exposures (such as phthalates) possibly contribute. Phthalates are common in consumer products, and exposure can occur through diet, personal care products, and even household dust. Consequently, exposure is ubiquitous for pregnant individuals. Prenatal phthalate exposure has been associated with adverse neurodevelopment in children and disordered development of the male reproductive tract. This study reviewed 16 prospective studies conducted within the United States to pool individual-level data to examine prenatal urinary biomarkers of phthalate exposure and preterm birth. In addition, potential influence of exposure to overall phthalate mixture was assessed to determine the potential impact of reduced exposure on preterm birth. Results of the study indicated that of 6045 pregnant women, 539 (9%) delivered preterm. Overall, of the entire included cohort, 802 individuals were Black (13.3%), 2576 were White (42.6%), 2323 were Latina (38.4%), and 328 had other race identity (including Native Hawaiian, Alaskan Native, or American Indian). Characteristics of participants were similar between those who delivered preterm versus term. Some 96% of urine samples displayed detectable concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites. As demonstrated by regression analyses, higher concentrations of most phthalate metabolites bore an association of slightly higher odds (12%–16% higher) for preterm birth. In addition, the study estimated that reducing the mixture of phthalate metabolite concentrations by 10%, 30%, or 50%, respectively, could prevent 1.8, 5.9, and 11.1 preterm births per 1000 live births. The study found a relationship between higher maternal pregnancy concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites and preterm birth. The findings of this study identify a potential benefit of phthalate exposure reduction among pregnant individuals via either regulations or behavioral interventions. Because phthalate exposure can occur through many environments and sources, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission has attempted to pinpoint major sources of phthalate exposure and has determined that the predominate exposures appear to occur through food and medications, although uncertainty in the primary source of exposure remains. Phthalate exposure also widely varies in the United States based on several factors such as whether a person is at a disadvantaged socioeconomic status, is pregnant, or is of a marginalized race or ethnicity. Targeted interventions, such as altering personal care products, is made challenging as consumers are not readily able to access accurate ingredients lists. In the United States, for example, fragrance ingredient lists are not required to list phthalates when they are included in the product. Diet interventions intending to reduce phthalate exposure have had mixed results. Although federally mandated restrictions have limited the use of phthalates in products for children, few such restrictions exist for products intended for pregnant individuals. As 28 phthalates are currently allowed as food additives or in food contact materials, they are difficult to avoid. Mitigation of population-level health effects from phthalates through regulatory means would be most effective when considering phthalates not as individual chemicals, but rather as a class. This study found that higher concentrations of several urinary phthalate metabolites in pregnancy were associated with preterm birth, a consistent finding across 16 prospective US studies. Such findings emphasize the importance of the development of policy measures and public health around phthalate exposure reduction, especially among pregnant individuals.

Pediatric all-terrain vehicle (ATV) related head injury rates and patterns: A 10-year nationwide analysis

IntroductionThe use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) carries significant risk of permanent injury and death, disproportionately affecting children. These injuries commonly affect the head and are especially severe among children as they are often unhelmeted and more likely than adults to experience rollover injuries. Many studies examining patients with ATV-related injuries are single-center cohort studies, with few focusing specifically on head injuries. In the present study, we aimed to characterize the annual incidence of ATV-related head injuries between 2012 and 2021, classify and compare head injury types, and identify descriptive characteristics of ATV-related head injury victims. MethodsUsing the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) database, we queried all head injuries associated with operating or riding an ATV in children under 18 years-old from over 100 emergency departments (EDs). Patient information regarding age, race, sex, location of incident, diagnoses, and sequelae were analyzed. We also collected the estimated number of ATV-related head injuries from all US EDs using the NEISS algorithm provided by the database. ResultsUsing the NEISS algorithm we identified 67,957 (95% CI: 43,608 - 92,305) total pediatric ATV-related head injuries between 2012 and 2021. The annual incidence of ATV-related head injury was similar throughout this study period except for a 20% increase during the COVID-19 pandemic period of 2019–2021 (2019: 6382 injuries, 2020: 6757 injuries, 2021: 7600 injuries). A subset of 1890 cases from approximately 100 EDs were then analyzed. Unspecified closed head injuries were the prevailing type of injury (38%, 900/1890), followed by concussions (27%, 510/1890). More severe injuries included intracranial hemorrhages in 91 children (3.8%, 91/1890). Injuries of all types were predominantly seen in 14–17 year-old's (780/1890, 41%) and in males (64.1%, 1211/1890). In addition, ATV-associated injuries were significantly more common in those coded as white (58.0%, 1096/1890) than any other racial group. ATV-associated accidents among children younger than 9 more commonly occurred at the home compared to accidents involving children older than 9 (57% vs. 32%, p < 0.0001). ConclusionATV-related head injuries cause a significant annual burden among children, with growing incidence in recent years. Further research may wish to explore potential benefits of helmet use and supervision of younger children in possible prevention of these accidents and their associated economic and non-economic costs.

Seven-year-long screening of phthalate esters in clothing and textile products from a quality control laboratory

The results of extensive yearly screening (2014–2020) of ortho-phthalate ester levels in textiles sent to a quality control laboratory by textile companies from southern European and northern African countries are presented. Six different regulated phthalates: benzyl butyl phthalate, di-butyl phthalate, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-iso-decyl phthalate, di-iso-nonyl phthalate and di-n-octyl phthalate, were measured in 4729 samples of textile materials from 10 different groups. Analyses were carried out according to the standard gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy procedure, as described by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. The results revealed a high level of compliance with the European Union legislation (97.25%). In the group of noncompliant samples (total phthalate content &gt;0.1% w/w), positive results were due to the presence of two or more phthalates in almost 60% of the cases. The phthalate esters most commonly detected were di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, followed by di-iso-nonyl phthalate and di-butyl phthalate. In the group of compliant samples (total phthalate &lt;0.1% w/w), the same frequency of occurrence was identified, but in this case most of the samples (almost 90%) contained only one phthalate. In addition, a growing tendency for a decrease in di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate levels and an increase in di-iso-nonyl phthalate and di-iso-decyl phthalate concentrations were detected throughout the study, due to replacement of the former by the latter in the use as a plasticizer. No significant differences between countries were noted with regard to the frequency or concentration of phthalates in the textile samples. The study findings contribute to advancing knowledge about the phthalate content of textiles and to evaluating and controlling the potential risks of exposure to these compounds.

Sledding Accidents at a Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center Between 2006 and 2016.

Sledding is not a risk-free winter sport. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, there were an estimated 13,954 sledding accidents requiring medical care in 2010. However, specific information concerning pediatric injuries related to sledding is not well defined. This study aimed to identify the most common types of injuries associated with sledding accidents and demographic factors related to risk of injury in pediatric patients, and to compare injuries associated with 2 different age groups and sexes. This is a retrospective descriptive study of pediatric patients (<18 years of age) presenting to a regional level I pediatric trauma center secondary to a sledding injury between 2006 and 2016. Demographic information including sex, age, mechanism of injury, and injury severity score was captured and analyzed using descriptive statistics. There were 209 patients identified for 10 years. There were no mortalities. There were 85 patients with primary head injury, of which 82 (96.5%) were hospitalized and 33 (38.8%) required an intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Seventy-five patients primarily suffered from extremity injuries, of which 56 (74.6%) had lower extremity fractures requiring operative intervention. There was no difference in ICU or length of stay between younger children (0-11 years) and adolescents (12-18 years) or between male and female patients. Childhood sledding can result in a variety of significant injuries requiring surgical intervention and hospitalization. Children pulled on sleds behind motorized vehicles are at higher risk for more severe injuries resulting in a higher rate of ICU admission.

Characterization of More Than a Third of a Million Toy-Related Fractures.

Introduction:The toy industry has grown substantially over time, with billions of dollars of toys sold each year in the United States alone. Even after safety considerations, injuries can result. This study examined toy-related fractures in the US Emergency Departments (ED).Methods:The 1999 to 2018 National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission was examined data for fractures involving a toy-related injury. The incidence, trends, and anatomic locations for such fractures were assessed.Results:In total, 347,135 toy-related fractures were identified, of which 237,754 (68%) were in patients younger than 18 years, 182,516 (53%) were sustained by male subjects, and a 95% yearly incidence increase was observed over the years of the study. Anatomically, 37% were shoulder/arm/elbow, 24% wrist/hand/finger, 19% ankle/toe/foot, 10% leg/knee, 6% face/neck/head, and 4% trunk/pubic region.Discussion:Despite safety considerations with toy design, more than a third of toy-related fractures were seen in the ED, with a nearly doubling yearly incidence over the study period. This could be contributed to by increased production and prevalence of toys and/or rougher play and increased overall violence. These results are important not only for patient safety but also for orthopaedic surgeons, EDs, toy manufacturers, and policymakers.

Court finds flaws in rule on phthalates in children’s products

The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) must fix procedural errors in a 2017 rule that restricts five phthalates in toys, teething rings, and other children’s products, a federal appeals c...

Supply chain in the C-suite: the effect of chief supply chain officers on incidence of product recalls

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the extent to which the presence of chief supply chain officers (CSCOs) in top management teams (TMTs) helps firms to reduce the incidence of product recalls.Design/methodology/approachThe authors identified all recalls for the period 2010–2017 issued by publicly held firms regulated by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. These data were subsequently combined with information on TMT composition from BoardEx and financial performance data from Compustat to create a unique data set.FindingsThe study identified a significant and negative association between CSCO presence and incidence of product recalls. The evidence also supports the conjecture that this association is stronger in larger firms, indicating that CSCOs are especially effective when operating within more complex supply chains.Practical implicationsThe findings provide important insights into quality management in contemporary supply chains and indicate that assigning specific responsibility for supply chain management to a TMT member improves product reliability.Originality/valueThese findings contribute to the growing literature on the underlying causes of a product recall by identifying corporate governance antecedents of external quality failures of this kind.

Estimating the impact of the mattress fire safety Standard 16 CFR Part 1633 on bed fire outcomes.

Beds are a prevalent combustible in fatal fires in the United States effective 1 July 2007, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission promulgated a standard to severely reduce the heat release rate and the early heat output from mattresses and foundations when ignited by a flaming ignition source. This study estimates the Standard's success over its first decade using fire incidence, US population, and mattress sales data. The technique mitigates the influence of some exogenous factors that might have changed during this decade. The Standard is accomplishing its purpose, preventing approximately 65 fatalities (out of an estimated 95 fatalities in 2002-2005) from bed fires annually during 2015-2016, although not all pre-Standard mattresses had yet been replaced. Compared to residential upholstered furniture fires, which were not affected by the Standard, the numbers of bed fires decreased by 12%, injuries by 34%, and deaths by 82% between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016. Per bed fire, injuries decreased by 25% and fatalities decreased by 67%, indicating that the severity of bed fires is being reduced.

Evaluating interest in off-label use of disinfectants for COVID-19

In February, 2020, during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made recommendations to clean and disinfect frequently-handled objects, which triggered nationwide panic buying of disinfectant products such as Clorox and Lysol. Numerous regulatory agencies and public health organisations (eg, CDC, US Food and Drug Administration, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the American Association of Poison Control Centers [AAPCC]) have repeatedly advised against ingestion and other off-label use of disinfectants and cleaning products.

Estimated Incidence of Electric Scooter Injuries in the US From 2014 to 2019

This cross-sectional study uses data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System to assess trends in the prevalence of electric scooter injuries in the US from 2014 to 2019.

Evaluating the e-Cigarette Epidemic in US Emergency Departments

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are often thought to be a healthier option to cigarette smoking. e-Cigarettes have been found to overheat and explode. e-Cigarette explosions have caused severe trauma and rendered patients in critical conditions. Inadvertent exposures to liquid nicotine products have caused systemic poisoning injuries. We sought to characterize e-cigarette injuries presenting to emergency departments (ED) in 2018.Methods: We analyzed one year of data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Patients presenting with injuries associated with e-cigarette products were manually identified for inclusion. We performed descriptive analyses on demographic factors, affected bodily regions, dispositions, locations of occurrence, and mechanisms of injury. By applying sample weights, nationally representative estimates were calculated.Results: A total of 361 667 injury cases were reported in NEISS (2018). We identified 50 e-cigarette injury cases, generating a national estimate of 1739 (95% CI [1333-2148]) patients presenting to US EDs with e-cigarette injuries in 2018. Approximately 1000 pediatric patients (age ≤17 years) and 700 adult patients (age ≥18 years) were included. The median age when presenting to the ED was 4 years (interquartile range [IQR], 1-25). Over 85% of injuries occurred at home. Ingestion (55.0%) was the most common mechanism of injury, followed by explosion (35.8%).Conclusion: Children and adults are susceptible to injury from e-cigarette products. Changes in manufacturing standards may prevent injuries from these products.

Electronic Cigarette Explosion and Burn Injuries

Objectives: E-cigarette explosions have resulted in severe injuries and fatalities. To date, only 2 studies have systematically estimated the prevalence of these injuries. This study updates these national estimates and describes the context of these explosion injuries. Methods: We conducted analyses on cross-sectional data from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). A key word search of case narrative text identified e-cigarette explosion and burn injuries reported by US hospital emergency departments. We applied sampling weights to make national incidence estimates, and reviewed text to identify contextual factors. Results: An estimated 2693 (95% CI 1478 to 3909) e-cigarette explosion and burn injuries were presented to US hospital emergency departments between 2015 and 2018. Case narratives indicated that a notable proportion of explosions occurred while a person was changing or replacing a device's battery. Conclusions: To prevent further injuries and fatalities, there is a need for strengthened regulation and monitoring of e-cigarette devices. The variety of contexts in which e-cigarettes have exploded suggests these devices have poorly understood technical problems that industry should be required to address. In addition, data recording and surveillance of e-cigarette injuries need improvement.

Bed and Sofa-Related Injuries to Young Children Treated in US Emergency Departments, 2007-2016

OBJECTIVE: Young children are often left on bed or sofa by parents with strong belief that it is safe and not dangerous. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics and secular trends of bed and sofa-related injuries among children aged <5 years treated in US emergency departments. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission from 2007 through 2016 by using sample weights to estimate national …

Evaluation of Heavy Metals in Selected Paint Brands and Paint Chips from Old Buildings in Selected Local Government Areas in Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: One major deleterious component of paints are heavy metals and it has been reported that the general populace (especially children) can be exposed to the components of paints through the chipping of paints from buildings and runoffs of rain from painted buildings to other bodies of water. Objectives: To assess the awareness of painters and paint sellers on the heavy metal constituents of paints and their adverse effects. The study also, to evaluated the heavy metal constituents of commonly sold paints and paint chips of old buildings in selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods: A self-administered well-structured questionnaire was distributed to fifty painters and fifty paint sellers to evaluate the occupational awareness on the use of personal protective devices, commonly experienced adverse symptoms, and also to know the commonly used and sold paints in Lagos, Nigeria. The heavy metal constituents were evaluated in ten paint brands (gloss and emulsion), and in 180 paint chip samples scraped off buildings located in selected LGAs in Lagos State, using the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Results: The results showed that 54% were aware of the hazards associated with their jobs, however, 72% do not use protective gears, and 32% reported symptoms relating to hazard exposure to paints. The levels of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) in paint brands and chips were below the permissible limits of 90 ppm of the US Consumer Product Safety Commission and 100 ppm limit of the European Union (EU) for Pb and Cd in paint. However, the levels of chromium were higher than recommended. Conclusion: There is a need for proper monitoring of heavy metal (especially chromium) concentration in paints manufactured and sold in Lagos and Nigeria as whole, while also ensuring that painters adhere to best protective practices.