Public Health Resources
Date of this Version
2003
Abstract
Objectives. 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.
Comments
Published in American Journal of Public Health, April 2003, Vol 93, No. 4.