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Pesticides and Child Safety
What are pesticides?
- These are chemical compounds used to kill pests, including insects, rodents, worms, weeds, and fungi.
- There are many classes of pesticides, including:
• organophosphates (e.g. parathion)
• carbamates (e.g. aldicarb)
• pyrethrins/pyrethroids (pyrethrin)
• chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g. DDT, lindane [trade name Kwell])
• organometallic pesticides (e.g. various arsenic and mercury compounds)
• herbicides (e.g. paraquat).
- Over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used each year in the U.S. alone as well as over 4 billion pounds worldwide.
- Although pesticides can be beneficial to society, they can be dangerous if used carelessly or if they are not stored properly and out of the reach of children.
- According to data collected from the American Association of Poison Control Centers, in 2004 alone, an estimated 71,000 children were involved in common household pesticide-related poisonings or exposures in the United States.
- A survey by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regarding pesticides used in and around the home revealed some significant findings:
• Almost half of all households with children under the age of five had at least one pesticide stored in an unlocked cabinet, less than 4 feet off the ground (i.e., within the reach of children).
• Approximately 75% of households without children under the age of five also stored pesticides in an unlocked cabinet, less than 4 feet off the ground (i.e., within the reach of children).
- This number is especially significant because 13% of all pesticide poisoning incidents occur in homes other than the child’s home.
How can my child be exposed to pesticides?
- Pesticides are widely used for many purposes, including home, garden, commercial, and agricultural pest control. Thus, the potential for some degree of exposure to these chemicals is great.
- In general, pesticides can enter the body through the lungs, the mouth, and the skin.
- Young children may be at particularly increased risk of pesticide exposure for several reasons:
• their tendency to explore their environment with their mouths
• their closeness to the ground
• their increased time playing outdoors
Kids may be exposed to pesticides in food, in the home, in drinking water outside the home, and in agricultural settings:
In food
- The diet is clearly an important potential route of pesticides exposure in children.
- The small amounts of pesticides present on our food are called pesticide residues. Both adults and children consume these residues regularly to some degree.
- Children’s diets are relatively higher in fruits and vegetables than adults. Thus, they may be at increased risk of exposure from their diet.
- According to the National Research Council, differences in diet between children and adults are responsible for most of the differences in the possible health effects of pesticides.
- Children and infants tend to eat fewer types of foods and eat more processed foods than adults (infant formula, baby food, etc.). There is very little current evidence about the amount of pesticide residues in processed foods. However, the limited available evidence shows that processed foods in general may actually have fewer residues than unprocessed foods.
In the home
It is estimated that over 90% of U.S. homes use some form of pesticide.
In fact, most toxic pesticide exposure in humans occurs from misuse or accidents in the setting of the home or garden.
Bathrooms and kitchens have been cited as the areas in the home most likely to have improperly stored pesticides.
Examples of some common household pesticides found in bathrooms and kitchens include roach sprays; chlorine bleach; kitchen and bath disinfectants; rat poison; insect and wasp sprays, repellents and baits; and, flea and tick shampoos and dips for pets. Other household pesticides include swimming pool chemicals and weed killers.
One study has found that pesticide residues may remain on toys, pillows, and other surfaces for up to 2 weeks after the house has been sprayed for bugs.
In drinking water
Since children consume more water than any other substance, the water supply is clearly an important possible route of exposure to environmental chemicals.
Several scientific studies have examined the relative amounts of various pesticides in the drinking water supply in different parts of the country. Except in a few areas where dramatic pesticide contamination has occurred, most studies have concluded that the levels of pesticide in the drinking water supply in the U.S. is extremely low.
Outside the home
This category would include school, playground, daycare, and commercial settings.
These settings are probably not as important as the home in terms of pesticide exposure to children. However, exposure is possible in these settings especially if there has been recent pesticide application.
In agricultural settings
Agricultural settings may be a risk factor for pesticide exposure in children, especially when one or both parents are agricultural workers.
Children may be exposed while playing in fields sprayed with agricultural pesticides.
Also, pesticide residues may be tracked into the home by parents who are agricultural workers.
One study looked at specific activities that might increase the chances of exposure to children of agricultural workers, including:
• a delay in changing clothing after spraying pesticides
• mixing pesticide-contaminated clothing with the family wash
• applying pesticides within 50 yards of the well
It is important to remember that some of the pesticides used in agriculture may still remain on the fruits and vegetables in the supermarket.
Also, we may be exposed to pesticides in agricultural products imported from developing countries.|
What are the health effects of pesticide exposure?
The health effects from pesticide exposure will depend on the type of pesticide involved and the level of exposure.
The health effects of each major class of pesticide considered to be important in children’s environmental health (organophosphates and carbamates, organochlorines, and pyrethrins and pyrethroids) will each be discussed in terms of two types of exposure: acute, high-level exposure and chronic low-level exposure.
Organophosphates and Carbamates
These two classes of pesticides share a similar way of causing health problems. However, the organophosphates are generally much more toxic than the carbamates.
Acute, high level exposure
Immediate effects - such exposure may produce the following findings in minutes to hours:
• heart rate changes (increased or decreased)
• pinpoint pupils
• increased tear formation in the eyes
• nausea/vomiting
• diarrhea
• muscle cramps
• difficulty breathing
• emotional instability
• confusion
• slurred speech
• seizures
• coma
• possibly death
Delayed effects - some studies have shown that repeated high-level exposures can cause the following problems from days to months after exposure:
• Damage to nerves in arms and legs
• Muscle weakness
Chronic, low level exposure
There is limited evidence showing that these levels of exposure cause health problems in humans.
However, several animal studies have given us reason for concern, especially since these chemicals are so widely used. These studies have suggested that certain pesticides may cause problems with brain development.
Organochlorines
DDT, perhaps the best-known organochlorine, was banned from use in the U.S. in 1987 because of its negative effects on wildlife and its tendency to persist for long periods of time in the environment.
One of the few remaining pesticides in this class still in use is lindane (Kwell), which is used as one option for the treatment of head lice.
Though these chemicals are no longer widely used in the U.S, they may still be frequently used in other parts of the world, especially in developing countries.
Acute high-level exposure
Based upon limited evidence, exposure to organochlorine pesticides may produce:
• problems with blood clotting
• severe confusion
• seizures
Chronic, low level exposure
There is limited human evidence demonstrating long-term health effects of low dose, chronic exposure to organochlorines.
Several animal studies have given us reason for concern that organochlorines may cause problems with brain development.
Pyrethrins/Pyrethroids
These pesticides are a family of compounds either directly derived from a species of the chrysanthemum plant (pyrethrins) or manufactured to resemble these chemicals (pyrethroids).
In general, these compounds are considered relatively safe to humans because of their low toxicity compared with other classes of pesticides.
One common use of pyrethrins today is as a less toxic alternative to lindane for the treatment of head lice.
The pyrethroids are considered to be less toxic than the pyrethrins and are being increasingly used for some agricultural crops.
Acute high-level exposure
This type of exposure to pyrethrins may cause:
• skin irritation
• itch
• runny nose
• asthma symptoms (wheezing, cough, shortness of breath)
Chronic low-level exposure
There is little human evidence that pyrethrins or pyrethroids cause health problems with this type of exposure.
How can I reduce pesticide exposure to my child? Here are 15 Safety Tips:
If your child needs to be treated for head lice, follow the treatment directions exactly and use no more than you absolutely need.
Try to reduce pesticide use in the yard by growing plants that naturally grow well in your area.
Consider pulling weeds by hand in your yard or garden rather than using chemical weed killers.
If your work involves the use of pesticides, change from your work clothes before coming home. Also, wash these work clothes separately from the family wash.
If you have a well, do not apply any pesticides within 50 yards of it.
Store food and trash in closed containers to keep pests from coming into your home.
Use baits and traps when you can; place baits and traps where kids can’t get them.
Read product labels and follow directions.
Store pesticides and toxic chemicals where kids can’t reach them - never put them in other containers that kids can mistake for food or drink.
Keep children, toys, and pets away when pesticides are applied; don’t let them play in fields, orchards, and gardens after pesticides have been used for at least the time recommended on the pesticide label.
When you have your home sprayed for insects, keep your children’s blankets, pillows, and stuffed animals covered.
Wash fruits and vegetables under running water before eating - peel them before eating, when possible.
If your use of a pesticide is interrupted (perhaps by a phone call), properly reclose the package and be sure to leave the container out of the reach of children while you are gone.
Teach children that "pesticides are poisons" -- something they should not touch.
Keep the emergency phone number 1-800-222-1222 of the Poison Control Center near your telephone.
What should I do if my child is exposed to a pesticide? - Regardless if symptoms of pesticide poisoning are present or not, any pesticide exposure in your child should be reported to the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. They can advise you on whether or not it is necessary to take your child to the ER.
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