PESTICIDE ILLNESS & INJURY SURVEILLANCE

Acute pesticide-related illnesses among working youths, 1988-1999

Objective: The goal of this study was to describe acute occupational pesticide-related illness among youths and to provide prevention recommendations.

Methods: Survey data from 8 states, and from poison control center data from 1993-1998 were analyzed. Illness incidence rates and incidence rate ratios were calculated.

Results: A total of 531 youth were identified with acute occupational pesticide-related illness. 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 15-17 years was 20.4/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 GM, Mehler LN, Rosales R, Baum L, Thomsen C, Male D, Shafey O, Das R, Lackovic M, Arvizu E. Acute pesticide-related illnesses among working youths, 1988-1999. Am J Public Health 2003;93:605-610.