Objective: The aim of this study was to perform an updated description of adolescent occupational exposures reported to the US poison centers.
Methods: We performed a descriptive analysis of adolescents aged 13 to 19 years with unintentional occupational exposures from 2011 to 2020 using the National Poison Data System. A clinically significant occupational poisoning (CSOP) case is defined as exposures with moderate effect, major effect, or death. Differences in substance categories between younger (13 to 17 years) and older (18 to 19 years) adolescents with CSOP were compared.
Results: There were 14,374 adolescent occupational exposures. There were 2151 CSOPs. The most common substance categories associated with CSOP were household cleaners (22.3%), chemicals (20.8%), industrial cleaners (14.2%), fumes/gases/vapors (10.8%), and hydrocarbons (5.9%). Categories of exposures were similar across age groups.
Conclusions: This study found that, despite a reduction in the number of adolescent occupational exposures, CSOPs persist.
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