1998 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers Toxic Exposure Surveillance System

Toxic Exposure Surveillance System (TESS) data are compiled by the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) in cooperation with the majority of US poison centers. These data are used to identify hazards early, focus prevention education, guide clinical research, and direct training. TESS data have prompted product reformulations, repackaging, recalls, and bans; are used to support regulatory actions; and form the basis of postmarketing surveillance of newly released drugs and products. From its inception in 1983, TESS has grown dramatically, with increases in the number of participating poison centers, population served by those centers, and reported human exposures (Table 1).(1-15) The cumulative AAPCC database now contains 24.8 million human poison exposure cases. This report includes 2,241,082 human exposure cases reported by 65 participating poison centers during 1998, an increase of 2.2% compared with 1997 poisoning reports.