Iqbal, Arshad

Khan, Nadeem Ullah

Sheikh, Sadaf

English

eCommons@AKU

eCommons@AKUDepartment of Emergency Medicine Medical College, PakistanJuly 2016Control of poisoning through product labeling ofhazardous chemicalsNadeem Ullah KhanAga khan University, nadeemullah.khan@aku.eduArshad IqbalAga khan UniversitySadaf SheikhAga khan UniversityFollow this and additional works at: http://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_emerg_medPart of the Chemicals and Drugs Commons, and the Emergency Medicine CommonsRecommended CitationKhan, N., Iqbal, A., Sheikh, S. (2016). Control of poisoning through product labeling of hazardous chemicals. Journal of the PakistanMedical Association, 66(7), 793-794.Available at: http://ecommons.aku.edu/pakistan_fhs_mc_emerg_med/87J Pak Med Assoc793Acute poisoning and chemical exposure is a worrisomeproblem globally especially because of rapidindustrialization and rapid increase in number and typesof chemicals.1 According to the Chemical AbstractsService (CAS) Registry, more than 83 million chemicalsubstances are currently available and approximately4000 new chemicals are introduced in the world everyday.2,3 Product formulations change frequently. Scientificunderstanding of the hazards of various substances isconstantly developing. It is becoming difficult for aphysician to know the toxicity of a compound when apatient presents with acute ingestion of a chemical whichdoes not have a proper label.A label is the written, printed or graphical informationabout a hazardous chemical that is affixed to the container.Labels must be legible and prominently displayed.Information may be given in words or presented insymbols or pictograms. Product labels are an essentialcomponent of hazard communication. The primaryinformation to be obtained from a label is the identity orchemical nature of the material, instructions for storageand use, appropriate hazard warnings and advice in caseof exposure. Reported poisonings are monitored for newor unusually dangerous hazards. When a problem isidentified, manufacturers and government regulatorsshould be urged to change the formulation and improvethe closure or even ban the product.Labels must be reviewed periodically in order to keepthem up to date, for example when there is a change inthe formulation or ingredients that changes thehazardous properties of the chemical, and when newinformation on the hazards of the product or any of itsingredients becomes available.4When the classification ofa hazardous chemical changes, the label must bereviewed and, if necessary, revised to reflect any changes.Importers, manufacturers and suppliers should reviewany new or significant information in relation to anyhazardous chemicals they import, manufacture or supply.A review of the literature and other relevant sources ofinformation should be undertaken on a regular basis.There are guidelines available internationally wheredifferent set of labeling rules play an essential role. Theseguidelines require that all containers of hazardouschemicals must be labeled, tagged, or marked with theidentity of the material and appropriate hazard warnings.The label and Safety Data Sheets (SDS) are importantsources of information that may be used to inform hazardand risk assessments and establish appropriate workpractices and processes to control the risks during use.4Requirements relating to the labeling of various productsexist in most countries and are controlled by regulationsand standards. The importance of labeling is emphasizedby a number of internationally approved conventions andrecommendations including the United NationsConference on Environment and Development (UNCED,Rio de Janeiro, 1992) recommendation on harmonizationof these systems to establish an international system forhazard communication with easily understandablelabeling symbols, a procedure for the selection ofprecautionary phrases for inclusion on labels,classification criteria for categories of hazard andcorresponding labeling classes.4In Canada and the US, ingredients are listed in order ofquantity. The first ingredient in the list makes up thegreatest amount of the product, the last ingredient ispresent in the least quantity. In Canada, manufacturersare now required to list ingredients on labels of personalcare products. However, one should be aware thatingredient lists may not contain all ingredients. Forexample, companies are not required to disclose themany ingredients that make up fragrances, includingpotential harmful ingredients such as phthalates.4In India Toxicity labels are mandatory on pesticidecontainers and are colour coded as red, yellow, blue andgreen in decreasing order of toxicity to identify the levelof toxicity of the contained pesticide.5-7 The schemefollows from the Insecticides Act of 1968 and theInsecticides Rules of 1971.8Appropriate labeling is essential but it is ineffective if thecontainer has been discarded and the product has beendecanted into another container, perhaps it's easier toopen. This is common practice in rural areas and wheretraders buy pesticide or kerosene in bulk then sell in smallEDITORIALControl of poisoning through product labeling of hazardous chemicalsNadeemUllah Khan, Sadaf Sheikh, Arshad IqbalDepartment of Emergency Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.Correspondence: Nadeem Ullah Khan. Email: nadeemullah.khan@aku.eduamounts to individuals who bring their own containers,usually soft drink bottles.Exposure to toxic chemicals represents an importantpublic health problem and it is important to raiseawareness as a first step among professionals, policymakers and to public. In the context of the developingcountries like Pakistan, where hazardous pesticides andother chemicals are openly available over the counter,there is a rising concern about the unsafe exposure tothese chemicals and its impact on human health.Regulating authorities should implement control on themandatory labeling of hazardous chemical especiallypesticide which is one of the leading cause of poisoning inour country and also a cause of high mortality due topoisoning. We hope and aim to provide a basis by thiseditorial to assist the stakeholders in the promotion of thesafe use of chemicals and control of poisoning throughinformation, education and regulation with the focus onlabeling of hazardous chemical products.References1. Wu YQ, Sun CY. Poison control services in China. Toxicology 2004;198: 279-84.2. CAS REGISTRY - The gold standard for chemical substanceinformation. [Online] [Cited 25th Feb 2014]. Available from URL:http://www.cas.org/content/chemical-substances.3. Binetti R, Costamagna FM, Marcello I. Exponential growth of newchemicals and evolution of information relevant to risk control.Ann Ist Super Sanita 2008; 44: 13-5.4. Reading Labels andMaterials Safety Data SheetsWork Cover NSW.[online] 2006 [Cited 4th Feb 2015]. Available from URL:http://blogs.spsk12.net/8903/files/2014/08/reading_labels_and_material_safety_data_sheets_guide_0400.pdf.5. List of substitutes issued for banned pesticides. The New IndianExpress 2011 May 17.6. Board R. Chemicals safe. The Hindu 2011 June 29.7. D G. Knowing labels can save lives. Tribune India 2003.8. Insecticides Rules [database on the Internet]. Central InsecticidesBoard. 1971. (Cited 2015 May19).Vol. 66, No. 7, July 2016Control of poisoning through product labeling of hazardous chemicals 794

Control of poisoning through product labeling of hazardous chemicals

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Control of poisoning through product labeling of hazardous chemicals

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