Family pesticide use in the home, garden, orchard, and yard

Abstract

This study examined family use of pesticides in the home, garden, orchard, and yard. Data were collected from 238 families in Missouri during telephone interviews from June 1989 to March 1990. Nearly all families (97.8%) used pesticides at least one time per year and two thirds used pesticides more than five times per year. More than 80% used pesticides during pregnancy and 70% used pesticides during the first 6 months of a child's life. The most common setting for family pesticide use was in the home, where 80% of families used pesticides at least once per year. This was followed by herbicide use to control yard weeds (57% of families) and insecticide use to control fleas and ticks on pets (50% of families). A substantial number of families also used pesticides in the garden or orchard (33%). Flea collars were the most popular pest control product (50% of families). Carbaryl or Sevin was also popular, with 28.2% of families reporting use. No-pest-strips (dichlorvos) and Kwell shampoo (lindane) were used by almost 10% of participating families. Examination of study data revealed that families limited exposure to pesticides for the mother during pregnancy and for children during the first 6 months of life. Families failed to recognize and reduce pervasive exposures associated with no-pest-strips and flea collars.

House dust levels of selected insecticides and a herbicide measured by the EL and LWW samplers and comparisons to hand rinses and urine metabolites

“…The results are presented in Table 4. Chlorpyrifos, a broad - spectrum organophosphate insecticide, was chosen as a target compound because it has been used more frequently in U.S. homes than other pesticides (Davis et al, 1992 ). It is not surprising, therefore, to find that it was stored in 25% of the Minnesota homes .…”

Residential insecticide usage in northern California homes with young children

“…Several nationaland regional-scale studies have been conducted, demonstrating that up to 90% of US households used pesticides in their house, garden, or yard, and more than half of the products applied were insecticides (Savage et al, 1981;Davis et al, 1992;Whitmore et al, 1994;Adgate et al, 2000;Colt et al, 2004). However, estimating human exposures from residential insecticide applications has been a challenge because of the lack of detailed information on the manner and patterns of applications and exposure related behaviors.…”

Dichlorvos exposure and human cancer risk: results from the Agricultural Health Study

“…In agricultural applications, it is used on beef and dairy cattle, swine, sheep, poultry, other livestock, and around livestock buildings and on tobacco and greenhouse-grown food crops including lettuce, mushrooms, and tomatoes [2]. Because it is poisonous if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin it has been used as a contact and stomach poison for control of insects in houses, campers, buildings, restaurants, garages, and various other areas [2,3] and in polyvinyl chloride resin strips worn by cats and dogs as collars for pet flea and tick control. About ten years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricted use which curtailed certain domestic consumer uses [2,4].…”