Acute hazards to young children from residential pesticide exposures.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed acute hazards to young children from pesticides toxic enough to require child-resistant packaging.


METHODS
The names of pesticides meeting acute toxicity criteria were ascertained from the Environmental Protection Agency. Poison Control Center reports identified children younger than 6 years who were exposed to these pesticides. Toxicity category, medical outcome, sex, and age were examined.


RESULTS
A higher proportion of children with exposure to the more toxic products had serious medical outcomes. Children 2 years and younger were the predominant age group exposed.


CONCLUSIONS
Protective measures--substituting less lethal pesticides, reducing the concentration of the active ingredients, and improving packaging and storage--are recommended.
Spann
M F
MF
US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 20460, USA. spann.monica@epa.gov
Blondell
J M
JM
Hunting
K L
KL
D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency
D010575:Pesticides