Poison centre received 3,081 calls last year

Landspítali’s Poison Information Centre received 3,081 calls last year, a slight decrease from the year before, mbl.is reported. Calls have risen somewhat so far this year, partly because of a small increase in questions about mushroom exposure.

The centre receives calls every week about nicotine pouches, most often after children get hold of them. Its director, Helena Líndal, said call numbers this year appear likely to be similar to 2024, when the centre received 3,223 calls.

At a recent Nordic and Baltic conference of poison centre representatives, participants said calls to centres in those countries had risen sharply in recent months. They discussed whether increased use of artificial intelligence might be a factor, as some AI tools advise people to contact a poison centre. Líndal said her centre had not seen a comparable increase but was monitoring the situation.

Medicines were involved in 52% of last year’s calls, while 37% concerned other poisonous substances. The most frequently reported medicines were paracetamol and psychiatric drugs. Nicotine products accounted for 8% of calls.

The centre received 110 calls about nicotine products during the year. Of those, 70% concerned nicotine pouches and 18% e-cigarettes. Children aged four or younger were involved in 72% of these calls.

The centre also receives calls around Halloween and New Year’s Eve after children are exposed to liquid from glow sticks. It received 17 calls about glow sticks on New Year’s Eve last year. Líndal said children sometimes break the sticks, allowing the liquid to splash into their eyes or mouths and cause burning and irritation.