Unit: Number of Cases (%)

	Pharmaceuticals	Batteries	Detergents	Cosmetics	Adhesives	Pesticides
2004	21	4	10	9	5	3
2005	12	27	17	8	12	6
Total	33 (15.4)	31 (14.5)	27 (12.6)	17 (7.9)	17 (7.9)	9 (4.2)
	Thermometers	Desiccants	Thinners	Glacial Acetic Acid	Fragrances	Others
2004	1	-	2	-	-	24
2005	5	6	2	4	3	33
Total	6 (2.8)	6 (2.8)	4 (1.9)	4 (1.9)	3 (1.4)	57 (26.6)

※ In the United States, about 2,000 consumers are poisoned each year from button batteries that are used in watches, calculators and hearing aids.

 

By age bracket, poisoning accidents (113 cases) mostly occurred among children between the age of 1 and 3. 15.4% of accidents involved children under the age 1 and 12.6% occurred among 4 to 6-year-olds.

 

KCPB also found that 38.8% (83 cases) of chemical poisoning frequently occurred during the summer season. 25.2% occurred in spring, 25.7% in fall and 10.3% in winter. Bedrooms and living rooms were the most likely places where accidents occurred, accounting for 73.8%.

 

Against this background, KCPB proposed to the Ministry of Health and Welfare and other relevant agencies to formulate measures to prevent chemical poisoning accidents through conducting regular inspections on toxic substances, encouraging manufacturers to use packaging and containers to ensure children’s safety, educating children on prevention and medical treatment, and launching a National Poison Prevention Week campaign. It also advised parents raising children under the age of 6 to keep toxic chemicals and other daily items that may be harmful to children in safe places.

 

Meanwhile, in celebrating the third year in which President Roh declared the Children’s Safety Year, public officials and children’s safety experts from the Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry & Energy and other relevant agencies gathered at the Children’s Safety Seminar to review children’s safety policies and to develop future policies.