38
CPSC NEISS Data 2005–2024

Aerosol Containers

Twenty years of CPSC NEISS emergency-room records for this consumer product category, combined with demographic breakdowns, multi-year injury trends, and matching recall notices.

Containers & Packaging · CPSC Code 1133

Down 40% over 5 years

The verdict

Aerosol Containers carry a danger score of 38/100 (low risk), driven by roughly 4,232 ER-treated injuries a year that are declining by about 40% over the last five years.

38/100
danger score (low risk)
4,232
ER visits per year (avg)
13.1%
end in hospital admission
15-24
most-injured age group

Every figure is rendered from the CPSC NEISS record for product code 1133 - last data year 2024.

PlainSafety danger score

0/100100/10038/100
PlainSafety danger score

Source: CPSC NEISS danger-score model As of 2024

How this 38/100 score is built

The score is computed from four CPSC-derived factors for aerosol containers - no opinion, no editorializing:

  • Injury volume4,232 ER visits/yr
  • Severity (hospitalization rate)13.1%
  • Fatality rate0.10%
  • 5-year trend-40%

See the full methodology for the exact weighting of each factor.

What the CPSC Data Shows

Aerosol Containers (CPSC product code 1133, in the Containers & Packaging category) generate an estimated 4,232 emergency-room visits every year in the United States, adding up to roughly 84,646 ER-treated injuries across the 20-year span from 2005 to 2024. PlainSafety derives a danger score of 38/100 for this category (low risk), combining raw injury volume, demographic reach, severity of outcome, and multi-year trend. The five-year trajectory shows that injury counts are declining by about 40% over the last five years, with the busiest year on record being 2015 (6,277 estimated ER visits) and the quietest 2024 (2,054 estimated visits).

The single most common ER diagnosis for aerosol containers is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 29,210 visits across the 20-year NEISS window, followed by burns, thermal to the face (6,267 cases). The 15-24 age group absorbs the largest share of injuries, about 15,224 cases over the NEISS window, and males appear slightly more often than the opposite sex in that cohort. Severity outcomes from the NEISS disposition field show that 13.1% of ER visits involving this product end in hospital admission or transfer, and a small fraction (0.10%) result in fatality.

Beyond the hospital-sampled NEISS projections, this page also aggregates 110 consumer incident reports filed directly on SaferProducts.gov, plus 20 anonymized ER narratives - together forming a layered picture of how aerosol containers fail in real households. Every figure on this page comes from CPSC-published data: NEISS projects national estimates from a probability sample of about 100 U.S. hospital emergency departments, while SaferProducts.gov collects voluntary reports from consumers, manufacturers, and clinicians. The danger score, trend indicators, and demographic breakdowns update automatically when CPSC releases a new yearly NEISS file, which is why this page is dated 2024-12-31. For regulatory context, consult CPSC recall notices and the SaferProducts.gov public database linked below.

4,232
Injuries / Year
13.1%
Hospitalization Rate
0.10%
Fatality Rate

Annual Injury Estimates (2005–2024)

1K2K3K4K5K6K7K 20052008201120142017202020232024 2K
Estimated annual emergency-room visits for Aerosol Containers, CPSC NEISS

Source: CPSC NEISS national injury estimates As of 2024

Source: CPSC NEISS national estimates CPSC NEISS national estimates Injuries represent ER-treated cases only

Who Gets Injured?

Age Group Male Female Total
0-4 6,334 3,728 10,062
5-14 9,549 3,314 12,863
15-24 9,942 5,282 15,224
25-34 6,664 5,937 12,601
35-44 7,871 4,221 12,092
45-54 4,376 5,492 9,868
55-64 3,123 2,652 5,775
65-74 2,119 1,687 3,806
75+ 1,200 1,159 2,359

Most Common Injuries

Body Part Diagnosis Est. Injuries
All Parts Body Poisoning 29,210
Face Burns, Thermal 6,267
Eyeball Derma/conjunct 4,922
Eyeball Burn, Chemical 3,876
Eyeball Other 2,558
Hand Burns, Thermal 2,123
Face Laceration 2,097
Lower Arm Burns, Thermal 1,936
Face Burn, Chemical 1,794
Eyeball Contusions, Abr. 1,545
Lower Trunk Foreign Body 1,328
Head Laceration 1,275
Lower Leg Burns, Thermal 1,059
Face Derma/conjunct 1,012
Head Internal Injury 825

Severity Breakdown

Treated/examined And Released 83.5% (70,666)
Treated And Admitted/hospitalized 8.0% (6,800)
Treated And Transferred 4.1% (3,445)
Left Without Being Seen 3.1% (2,616)
Held For Observation 1.2% (1,027)
Fatality Incl. Doa, Died In Er 0.1% (87)

ER Visit Narratives

Real anonymized emergency room reports from the CPSC NEISS database.

Age 34 · Male · Hand · Burn, Chemical · 2024

34YOM WITH MEDICAL CLEARANCE FOR JAIL. PT HAS BEEN HUFFING AEROSOL CANS AND HAS OPEN WOUNDS ON HANDS. DX: FIRST DEGREE BURN OF HAND, INHALATION OF GASEOUS SUBSTANCE.

Age 45 · Male · Lower Trunk · Burns, Thermal · 2024

45 YOM REPORTS RELAPSE OF NITROUS INHALANT USE, AND BURNS TO HIS ANTERIOR ABDOMEN SUFFERED ROUGHLY 3 DAYS AGO FROM THE BASE OF THE NITROUS CANISTER, APPEAR TO BE COLD BURNS. DX: BURN OF ABDOMINAL WALL.

Age 21 · Male · All Parts Body · Poisoning · 2024

21YOM WAS FOUND BY POLICE SLUMPED OVER IN HIS VEHICLE. BA 82 AIR CANISTER IN VEHICLE HAS BEEN HUFFING. DX MEDICAL CLEARENCE FOR INCARCERATION INOXICATED ETOH, HUFFING.

Age 24 · Female · Lower Leg · Laceration · 2024

24 YOF PRESENTS AFTER AN AEROSOLIZED CONTAINER EXPLODED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING ABOUT 20 MINS AGO. REPORTS HEARING THE EXPLOSION NEAR HER RIGHT LEG AND NOTING BLOOD AND TORN PANTS. DX: LACERATION RIGHT LOWER LEG.

Age 47 · Male · Face · Burn, Scald · 2024

47 YOM WAS SITTING NEXT TO A FIRE HE MADE OUTSIDE OF HIS TENT WHEN A CAN OF WHITE SPRAY PAINT GOT TOO CLOSE TO THE FIRE AND EXPLODED, SPLASHING THE PATIENT ON HIS BILATERAL LOWER ARMS AND HANDS, NECK, AND FACE. FD NS. DX: PARTIAL THICKNESS BURN FACE AND HEAD.

Age 74 · Male · Lower Trunk · Foreign Body · 2024

74 YOM SPRAY CAN STUCK IN RECTUM DX; FOREIGN BODY

Age 46 · Male · All Parts Body · Poisoning · 2024

46 YOM USING AIRDUSTER CAN FOR INHALANT TO GET HIGH, TRIGGERED AN ASTHMA ATTACK. DX ASTHMA ACUTE EXACERBATION, SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Age 63 · Male · Lower Arm · Burn, Scald · 2024

63YOM PT WAS NEAR A FIRE THAT WAS BURNING SOME CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS, AND CAN OF SPRAY FOAM THAT WAS IN THE FIRE EXPLODED ALL OVER PT - RT FOREARM, HAND & LEG (1ST/2ND DEGREE BURNS) - UNKNOWN IF FIRE DEPARTMENT INVOLVED DX: BURN

Age 63 · Female · Face · Contusions, Abr. · 2024

63YOF PT STRUCK IN FACE WITH A FLYING 12OZ CAN OF AIR FOR DUSTING COMPUTER KEYBOARD DX: CONTUSION OF FACE, LAC OF FACE

Age 10 · Female · All Parts Body · Poisoning · 2024

10 YOF BUBBLEGUM FLAVORED AEROSOL SPRAY ON BUS BY ANOTHER STUDENT, WAS SOB, THEN PASSED OUT. DX ACUTE ALLERGIC REACTION

Age 48 · Male · Lower Trunk · Foreign Body · 2024

48 YOM WAS ENGAGED IN MUTUAL SEXUAL PLAY AND AN AEROSOL CAN WAS INSERTED INTO HIS RECTUM AND THEN WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE IT, DX: RECTAL FOREIGN BODY

Age 36 · Male · Face · Burn, Chemical · 2024

36YOM PATIENT REPORTS THAT HE WAS BURNING TRASH WHEN HE ACCIDENALLY THREW AN AEROSOL CAN OF *** INTO THE FIRE AND THE CAN EXPLODED. HE HAS BURNS OVER HIS RIGHT FACE AND RIGHT HAND. DX: BURN

Consumer Incident Reports

Reports filed by consumers on SaferProducts.gov.

9/6/2016 · Incident, No Injury · L'Oreal USA Products, Inc. (Loreal) · Florida

Caller is reporting that she experienced similar problems of recall# Hazard: The aerosol container’s liner can corrode over time, posing a risk of the cans rupturing and expelling its contents. She stated that the container was in her bathroom closet, she heard an explosion and later discovered that the can had exploded causing other objects to become a projectile. The manufacturer was not contacted as yet. Caller stated that she was not aware of this recall. Caller feels that this incident should be reported.

9/29/2024 · Incident, No Injury · BENGAL CHEMICAL CO. · Florida

I bought a can of bug bomb at Hernando FL dollar general store the tab is pose to lock and it doesn't lock down like it should that is a major chemical hazard that could kill someone if inhaled harmful chemicals.

9/27/2021 · Incident, No Injury · L'Oreal USA Products, Inc. (Loreal) · Wisconsin

Redken Guts 10 exploded under bathroom sink.

9/23/2014 · Incident, No Injury · L'Oreal USA Products, Inc. (Loreal) · Texas

A can of Redkin Guts Mousse exploded in the bathroom cabinet. I wasn't aware of the recall until I started to investigate by google. Although no one was hurt, it created a huge mess.

9/19/2019 · Incident, No Injury · L'Oreal USA Products, Inc. (Loreal) · Unspecified

This is a warning for anyone who may have the hair product Redken 10 Gut Mousse in their home. On September 17, 2019 my husband and I were both awakened from a sound sleep by a loud explosion at 2:00 a.m. in the morning. We searched our house from the upstairs to the basement and found nothing. We checked outside and found nothing. Very strange and scary experience. The next day I noticed the bottom drawer on one of our vanities was open. When I attempted to close the drawer I found it was off the track. When I looked closer I noticed all of the hair products I store in that drawer were all jumbled and covered in dried product of some sort. In the midst of all them all was a can of Redken 10 Gut Mousse. The side of the can was completely blown open. The other cans in the drawer had dents in them. In addition, the sides of the drawer were detached from the drawer guide and the back board on the drawer was blown off completely!!! I can only imagine what would have happened it someone had picked up the can and tried to use it when it decided to explode!!! In our case no one was injured but my concern lies with how many consumers still may have this product and are not aware of the danger. I understand the product was recalled, but the average consumer never gets those recall notices as was my case. The Redken Company has confirmed the can I had was one on the recall list. I further understand that most people don't keep products as long as I had this one. I probably bought it to try, and never used it again so it was in the back of my hair supply products. I have no idea what can be done to protect others from this defective product but I do not want to see anyone hurt which is why I am submitting this information

9/17/2022 · Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received · S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. · North Carolina

My wife bought a new bug spray advertised as safe for children and pets and safe for use throughout your home. She sprayed an area of the kitchen floor with it before she went to bed. I went to the kitchen during the night and slipped. It was like the floor was covered in baby oil and still wet. Jarred my back when I caught myself with my back foot and grabbed the counter, but was able to avoid a fall. It's a miracle I didn't hit the floor. Others will be severely injured from this product. The product is lemon oil and white mineral oil based. There is a tiny, barely legible warning on the back of the spray can about surfaces being made slippery with the heading "A Note on Surfaces:" It also has a warning about avoiding contact with eyes and skin, but there's no way a baby can crawl on a floor that was sprayed with this product and not get the oil all over its skin. It does not dry like other sprays because of being oil based. But the fall risk is my main concern. The risk is severe.

9/17/2019 · Incident, No Injury · L'Oreal USA Products, Inc. (Loreal) · California

Caller stated that the metal bottle that holds the foam gel exploded while she was away from home. She stated that came back to find cans and other bottles thrown across the room, she thought that it might have been a break-in. Caller stated that the force of the explosion cause a hole in the tray where it was located and to her drapes. The liquid splattered all over the wall in the room. She stated that she found the bottle on the kitchen floor. She believes the bottle became a projectile or had a ricochet effect when the incident occurred. Caller stated that she was not sure when she had made the purchase and that it could have been years. The manufacturer was not contacted as yet. Caller feels that this bottle is a safety hazard and should be reported.

9/17/2012 · Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received · RUST-OLEUM CORPORATION · Wisconsin

Spray painted for 3 hours. First, primer. Then, color paint. Right index fingertip was numb and tingling immediately after. A day later, fingertip is still numb and tingling. Great circulation but no feeling. We all need our fingers to type and write, however I need it to pass medications to patients and give push meds through IV lines and I use my fingertips for pushing meds. After reading several stories of the possibility of NEVER regaining feeling back into my fingertip, I needed to share my story and concern, Safety concern: I would like to see a caution label or special attachment encouraged to prevent this injury from occurring to someone else.

Showing 8 of 110 reports.

Product Recalls

Search for active and past recalls related to aerosol containers on the CPSC website.

Frequently Asked Questions

How dangerous are aerosol containers?

Based on 20 years of CPSC data, aerosol containers have a danger score of 38/100 (low risk). An estimated 4,232 ER-treated injuries occur annually in the U.S. related to this product category.

What are the most common injuries from aerosol containers?

The most common injury is poisoning to the all parts body, accounting for approximately 29,210 injuries over 20 years.

Are injuries from aerosol containers increasing or decreasing?

Down 40% over 5 years.

Who is most at risk for aerosol containers injuries?

The 15-24 age group accounts for the most injuries, with approximately 15,224 cases recorded over 20 years. Males are more frequently injured in this age group.

What happens when someone is injured by aerosol containers?

Of all ER visits involving aerosol containers, approximately 13.1% result in hospital admission. The majority of patients (87.0%) are treated and released from the emergency department.

How can I report a safety problem with aerosol containers?

You can file a consumer incident report at SaferProducts.gov, the official CPSC reporting portal. Reports help the CPSC identify emerging hazards and trigger investigations or recalls. You can also call the CPSC hotline at 1-800-638-2772.

Safety Guides

What this means for you

Treat the 38/100 score as relative risk between products, not your personal odds of injury.

  • See where this category ranks against every other tracked product. Full rankings
  • Injuries cluster in the 15-24 age group, take extra care if that describes your household.
  • Check for active recalls on this product before you assume it is safe. CPSC recalls

NEISS estimates ER-treated injuries from a national probability sample of hospitals; they do not capture injuries treated elsewhere or not treated at all.

Data: CPSC National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) 2005–2024 and SaferProducts.gov consumer incident reports. Injury estimates are based on a nationally representative probability sample of U.S. hospital emergency departments. This page is for informational purposes only and is not affiliated with the CPSC.