Disinfecting surfaces can help prevent the spread of viruses, including the coronavirus causing COVID-19. Many Canadians are spending more time cleaning and disinfecting their homes, but apparently aren’t always doing it safely.
According to Health Canada, reported exposures to cleaning products, bleaches, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, and chlorine and chloramine gases has significantly increased since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2019, there were between 483 and 487 cleaning product and disinfectant related exposures reported to Canadian poison centres.
Exposures more than doubled in March 2020, with 985 exposures reported. There are multiple reasons for this concerning increase.