Acute pesticide-related illnesses among working youths, 1988-1999.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this study was to describe acute occupational pesticide-related illnesses among youths and to provide prevention recommendations.


METHODS
Survey data from 8 states and from poison control center data were analyzed. Illness incidence rates and incidence rate ratios were calculated.


RESULTS
A total of 531 youths were identified with acute occupational pesticide-related illnesses. Insecticides were responsible for most of these illnesses (68%), most of which were of minor severity (79%). The average annual incidence rate among youths aged 15 to 17 years was 20.4 per billion hours worked, and the incidence rate ratio among youths vs adults was 1.71 (95% confidence interval = 1.53, 1.91).


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest the need for greater efforts to prevent acute occupational pesticide-related illnesses among adolescents.
Calvert
Geoffrey M
GM
Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA. jac6@cdc.gov
Mehler
Louise N
LN
Rosales
Rachel
R
Baum
Lynden
L
Thomsen
Catherine
C
Male
Dorilee
D
Shafey
Omar
O
Das
Rupali
R
Lackovic
Michelle
M
Arvizu
Ernest
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000506:poisoning; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007306:Insecticides / Q000506:poisoning; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009790:Occupations / Q000145:classification / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010575:Pesticides / Q000145:classification / Q000506:poisoning*; D011159:Population Surveillance; D040442:Public Health Informatics; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000506:poisoning; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D007306:Insecticides; D010575:Pesticides; D011722:Pyrethrins