Public Health Impacts of Exposure to Disinfectants, Therapeutics, and Illicit Substances During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 virus spread rapidly, infecting over a hundred million people worldwide; thus, it has been called the COVID-19 pandemic, in which it is very important to wear a protective mask, wash hands properly, obey social distance rules, and use disinfectants to protect ourselves against infection. Therefore, the consumption of cleaning agents such as disinfectants, surface cleaners, and bleach has increased during the pandemic. Misuse of these substances such as drinking or gargling of cleaners and excessive use has led to many poisoning cases and even deaths. In addition, quarantine and stay-at-home orders during the pandemic caused people to could not socialize and feel dissociated. Moreover, due to the economic problems, many people became unemployed, which affected substance abuse and alcohol consumption frequency, thus poisoning cases as well. This article aimed to review how the COVID-19 was affected the disinfectant or cleaner-induced poisoning cases and the public health impacts between the drug or substance abuse due to pandemic.