Using Integrated Pest Management in Low Income Housing to Reduce Exposure to Potentially Harmful Pests and Pesticides


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

5005.0: Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - Board 3

Abstract #112218

Kathy Seikel, US EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, 7506C, Washington, DC 20460, (703) 305-5017, seikel.kathy@epa.gov

Summary: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a system of practices designed to choose the most economical and environmentally friendly course of action in controlling pests. The principles of IPM can be used in homes, in schools, commercial settings, and in agriculture. EPA, HUD and CDC are working together to promote IPM in low-income housing where pest pressures are intense and pesticide applications are often performed on a regularly scheduled basis, resulting in high levels of exposure to potentially toxic pesticides. Numerous research studies, pilot programs and public education campaigns have demonstrated that use of an IPM approach to pest management that focuses on prevention, i.e. eliminating conditions that are conducive to pest infestations, is the most effective and, over time, the least expensive approach to pest management. Even more important, using IPM for residential pest control minimizes 1) adverse health effects associated with exposure to pests such as cockroaches and rodents; 2) potential acute health effects associated with misuse of registered pesticides and use of illegal pesticides; and 3) potential chronic health effects, including reproductive, neurological and carcinogenic effects, that have been linked to exposure to pesticides. The panel discussion will be moderated by Kathy Seikel of EPA and features four national experts on IPM.

Learning Objectives:

This is a proposal for a panel discussion of IPM moderated by USEPA and featuring four nationally recognized experts in the field of structural pest management/reduction of exposure to potentially harmful pests and pesticides in the home. Learning objectives include

- Raising awareness about acute and chronic health effects associated with exposure to pesticides
- Providing information on suucessful IPM interventions in public and other low income housing development where roach and rodent populations have been controlled with an IPM approach to pest management.
- Providing information on resources available through EPA and other sources for professionals who work with communities living in low income housing.
- Raising awareness about cockroaches and rodents as asthma triggers and informing the audience on steps that can be taken to eliminate conditions in the home that may contribute to pest infestations

Keywords: Pesticides, Indoor Environment

Related Web page: www.epa.gov/pesticides

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Evaluating Effectiveness of Environmental Health Policies and Programs

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA