Acute illnesses associated with pesticide exposure at schools.
BACKGROUND
Pesticides continue to be used on school property, and some schools are at risk of pesticide drift exposure from neighboring farms, which leads to pesticide exposure among students and school employees. However, information on the magnitude of illnesses and risk factors associated with these pesticide exposures is not available.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the magnitude of and associated risk factors for pesticide-related illnesses at schools.


METHODS
Analysis of surveillance data from 1998 to 2002 of 2593 persons with acute pesticide-related illnesses associated with exposure at schools. Nationwide information on pesticide-related illnesses is routinely collected by 3 national pesticide surveillance systems: the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks pesticides program, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, and the Toxic Exposure Surveillance System.


METHODS
Incidence rates and severity of acute pesticide-related illnesses.


RESULTS
Incidence rates for 1998-2002 were 7.4 cases per million children and 27.3 cases per million school employee full-time equivalents. The incidence rates among children increased significantly from 1998 to 2002. Illness of high severity was found in 3 cases (0.1%), moderate severity in 275 cases (11%), and low severity in 2315 cases (89%). Most illnesses were associated with insecticides (n = 895, 35%), disinfectants (n = 830, 32%), repellents (n = 335, 13%), or herbicides (n = 279, 11%). Among 406 cases with detailed information on the source of pesticide exposure, 281 (69%) were associated with pesticides used at schools and 125 (31%) were associated with pesticide drift exposure from farmland.


CONCLUSIONS
Pesticide exposure at schools produces acute illnesses among school employees and students. To prevent pesticide-related illnesses at schools, implementation of integrated pest management programs in schools, practices to reduce pesticide drift, and adoption of pesticide spray buffer zones around schools are recommended.
Alarcon
Walter A
WA
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA. walarcon@cdc.gov
Calvert
Geoffrey M
GM
Blondell
Jerome M
JM
Mehler
Louise N
LN
Sievert
Jennifer
J
Propeck
Maria
M
Tibbetts
Dorothy S
DS
Becker
Alan
A
Lackovic
Michelle
M
Soileau
Shannon B
SB
Das
Rupali
R
Beckman
John
J
Male
Dorilee P
DP
Thomsen
Catherine L
CL
Stanbury
Martha
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010575:Pesticides / Q000633:toxicity*; D011041:Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D010575:Pesticides