The effects of aerial spraying with Bacillus thuringiensis Kurstaki on children with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if aerially spraying a biological pesticide was associated with an increase in the symptoms or change in the Peak Expiratory Flow Rate of children with asthma.


METHODS
A pre/post matched pairs cohort design was used. Children living in the spray zone were matched with children outside of the spray zone. Peak Expiratory Flow Rates, asthma symptoms and non-asthma symptoms were recorded in diaries.


RESULTS
There were no differences in asthma symptom scores between subjects and controls, neither before nor after the spray; nor were there significant changes in Peak Expiratory Flow Rates for subjects after the spray period.


CONCLUSIONS
No evidence of adverse effects from the use of the biological pesticide was found. We believe that this is the first paper to address the issue of whether or not aerial spraying with Btk has a harmful effect on children with asthma.
Pearce
Marty
M
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. marty.pearce@caphealth.org
Habbick
Brian
B
Williams
Janice
J
Eastman
Margaret
M
Newman
Maureen
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000401:Aircraft; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000009:adverse effects*
D010575:Pesticides