Pediatric pesticide poisoning is a persistent problem in the US. However, it is not known whether children are at risk from pesticide exposure from occupational and/or environmental sources. A phone-questionnaire case-control study was conducted to evaluate occupational and environmental sources of pesticides among pediatric poisoning cases from the South Florida Poison Information Center between 2/98-2/00. Cases were defined as children < 15 years who ingested a pesticide; controls were non-pesticide ingestion poisoning cases matched on age, gender and date of poisoning. A phone questionnaire in English and Spanish was administered to consenting parents or guardians after giving verbal consent. 27 cases were enrolled, matched to 54 controls in a 1:2 ratio. The mean age of the cases was 4.96+ 2.87 years, with 12 (44%) females. Only 2 (7.4%) cases and 3 (5.5%) controls reported an occupational exposure (ie. Adult household member with occupational pesticide exposure) (Fishers exact test: p<0.54). However, 22 (81.5%) cases had potential environmental exposure (ie. Pesticides stored in house) versus only 25 (46.2%) controls (p<0.003). Furthermore, only 5 (18.5%) cases and 4 (7.4%) controls reported living within 10 miles of agricultural fields (p<0.13). These data suggest that household rather than occupational exposures may be the main cause of pediatric pesticide poisoning in the US, even in areas with high agricultural pesticide use such as South Florida. Therefore, future intervention activities should focus on pesticide safety and storage in the home to prevent pediatric pesticide poisoning.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the epidemiology of pediatric pesticide poisoning 2. Assess the association between occupational and environmental sources, and pediatric pesticide poisonings
Keywords: Pesticide Exposure, Pediatrics
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.