Why are adults exposed to liquid laundry detergent capsules?

Exposures to liquid laundry detergent capsules in adults are less well characterized than in children.

All enquiries to the Centro Antiveleni di Milano regarding adults (>18 years) who were exposed to these capsules between July 2010 and July 2023 were analyzed. Enquiries were followed up with one or more recalls depending on the severity of the patient.

Over the study period, 127 adults were exposed. The age distribution was as follows: 34 patients were aged 18-39 years, 29 were 40-59 years, 24 were 60-79 years, 26 were 80-96 years, and the age was unknown in 14. Exposure occurred mainly as a result of ingestion alone (n = 54), skin contact alone (n = 23), and eye contact alone (n = 31). Oral exposure without swallowing occurred in nine cases, and inhalation of the odour from a disintegrated capsule in four. Multiple routes of exposure were involved in six patients. Thirty-four (63 per cent) of the 54 ingestions occurred in those with dementia or intellectual disability, and three patients in this group died. Dermal or eye exposures did not involve those with dementia.

These data show that the majority of adults in Italy who ingest liquid laundry detergent capsules are suffering from dementia or other cognitive impairment.