Web Page Will Keep Public Updated on Health Impact of Oil Spill

ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) announces the launch of a page on its website to share summary information from U.S. poison center callers about the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The page, which can be accessed from www.aapcc.org, will update the public daily on poison exposure calls linked to the disaster. It will also include a tally of information calls – calls from people seeking health information about the spill. The page will also list which states are receiving calls about poison exposures related to the spill as well as list most prominent symptoms poison centers are hearing about in connection to the spill.

Poison centers, through the AAPCC's National Poison Data System (NPDS) track all calls related to the spill, including inhalation of fumes, ingestion of oil and exposure to chemical dispersants. Data about the health effects and other call information are entered into NPDS, a near-real time database of poison exposures in the United States.

As of 4:04 a.m. Thursday, June 10, poison centers had received 132 exposure calls related to the spill and 152 calls seeking information about health-related effects of the spill. Poison centers took exposure calls related to the spill from Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas.

Callers reported symptoms including headaches, throat irritation, nausea, vomiting, eye pain and dizziness.

"People want information about the effects of this tragedy, and the National Poison Data System is one of the few sources documenting the health-related impact of this disaster," said Sandy Giffin, President of the American Association of Poison Control Centers. "We offer this frequently updated resource for those who want to know what is happening as a result of this spill."

Poison centers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Their services are free and confidential. If you have a question about medical effects of the oil spill or any other poison exposure, call your local poison center at 1(800) 222-1222.

About the American Association of Poison Control Centers: The American Association of Poison Control Centers is a non-profit, national organization founded in 1958 that represents the poison control centers of the United States, the interests of poison prevention and the treatment of poisoning.

SOURCE American Association of Poison Control Centers

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