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School
Cases in Washington State,
2000 - 2006
In Washington State, health care providers are
required to report cases of pesticide related illness or injury to DOH.
DOH investigates reported cases and collects information that can be
used for prevention. Between the years 2000-2006, there were fifteen
reported pesticide-exposure incidents involving 43 sick persons at
schools. Eighteen were children and 25 were adults. These cases were
classified by DOH as possibly, probably, or definitely due to pesticide
exposure, see How DOH
classifies cases. The DOH Pesticide Program does not detect
every case that occurs, see
Limitations of
DOH Pesticide-Illness Data.
|
Year |
County |
DOH
Determination |
Pesticide
Involved |
Incident Description |
|
2000 |
Grant |
1 Possible |
Ortho Diazinon
Insect Spray 2 |
38 y/o pregnant teacher
developed symptoms after smelling drift from an insecticide
application to back yard fruit trees next to the school. She
sought medical treatment the same day. WSDA (Washington State
Department of Agriculture) investigation noted that the odor had
entered the school air conditioning system. |
|
2000 |
King |
1 Possible |
Strikeforce II Residual with Dursban |
20 y/o female sprayed an
insecticide in her college dorm room for spiders. The can had
been provided by maintenance staff. It was industrial strength
and she used it incorrectly. She became ill shortly after
applying the product and sought medical care. Symptoms resolved
in one week. |
|
2000 |
Grant |
13 Probable
11 Possible
|
Bravo 825 |
Nine
teachers and 15 students reported mild symptoms after an aerial
application to a potato field next to a school district. The
application occurred shortly before staff and students arrived.
WSDA tests were positive for pesticide residues around the
buildings. |
|
Comite
Agricultural Miticide |
|
2001 |
Chelan |
1 Probable |
Sevin brand of
Carbaryl Insecticide |
A 12 y/o female middle school
student developed systemic symptoms after orchard spray drifted
onto school grounds. WSDA samples of vegetation and of her
clothes were positive for residues in the grassy area where she
sat during her PE class. She sought treatment at Emergency Room. |
|
ABG-6404
Biological Insecticide |
|
Guthion Solupak
50% Wettble Powder Insecticide |
|
Carzol SP in
water soluble packaging |
|
Ethrel brand
Ethephon Plant Regulator |
|
2001 |
King |
1 Probable |
Roundup
herbicide |
41 y/o male campus gardener
was spraying weeds when the spray splashed back into his left
eye. He immediately washed out his eyes. The local fire
department was summoned and they irrigated his eyes, but he
continued having discomfort and sought medical care. |
|
2001 |
Douglas |
1 Probable |
Misty Dualcide
|
A 51 y/o female elementary school
teacher developed symptoms after entering a building that had been
treated. An application was conducted next to her workspace which
left a smell. She sought medical treatment for respiratory symptoms. |
|
2002 |
Franklin |
1 Possible
1 Probable |
Dimethoate 400 |
24 children and their bus driver
were exposed to insecticide on their way home from school. Spray
drift came through their school bus windows from an aerial
application to a field adjacent to the road. Two individuals had
mild symptoms. Neither sought medical care. WSDA samples were
positive for pesticide residues in bus. |
|
2003 |
Thurston |
1 Possible |
Chemsico
Tralomethrin insecticide fogger |
A 46 y/o male community college
custodian inhaled fog while activating a fogger. The release
mechanism malfunctioned and the custodian stayed in the room
longer then he should have as he tried to correct the problem.
He sought medical care for respiratory symptoms. |
|
2004 |
Benton |
5 Probable |
Pendulum 3.3 EC
herbicide
|
An unlicensed school employee
applied an herbicide to a school parking lot and sidewalk at
6:30 AM on a school day. Notification and signage were not
carried out. Several students and faculty members became ill
after smelling the vapors from the application. Students and
employees were evacuated from the facility. |
|
2004 |
King |
1 Probable |
Roundup Ultra
|
A 43 y/o female teacher was on
break outside when an herbicide application was taking place.
She smelled the chemical and she relocated. She began coughing.
When her coughing continued for about 3 hours she sought medical
care. |
|
Surflan A.S. |
|
2004
|
Pierce |
1 Possible |
Roundup Ultra
|
A 23 y/o male landscaper
assistant made a weed control application with a hand sprayer at
a high school. He did not recall any significant contact with a
chemical. However, that evening he developed dermal symptoms on
his extremities. The next day he went for medical treatment for
what was believed to be an allergic reaction. |
|
2006 |
King |
1 Possible |
Phantom Termiticide |
A 52 y/o female
university employee had a severe but short-lived asthma attack after
a nearby office was sprayed with insecticide. No samples were taken
to confirm drift. She took asthma medications and was seen in the
ER 30 minutes post-exposure. Symptoms resolved shortly afterwards.
In response, her employer implemented new policy to use alternative
methods of pest control and notify her before any application in her
area. |
|
2006 |
Adams |
1 Possible |
Drexel Carbaryl
4F insecticide |
A 63 y/o female
school bus driver reported symptoms after her bus received drift
from an orchard sprayer. She reported spray was heavy enough
that she had to turn on her windshield wipers. Her window was
open. She did not seek medical attention. No students on the
bus reported symptoms from the incident. WSDA investigated but
did not take samples. |
|
Maxcel Plant
Growth Regulator |
|
2006 |
Pend Oreille |
1 Possible |
Gordon’s Amine
400 2,4-D Weed Killer |
A 56 y/o female kindergarten
teacher reported smelling herbicide odor in her classroom. An
outside area 25-30 ft away had been treated one hour before.
Within 45 minutes she reported neurological, ocular and
respiratory symptoms. She left school early and sought medical
care the next day. WSDA investigated and all notification
requirements had been met. No other reports of illness. |
|
2006 |
Thurston |
1 Probable |
Safer
Insecticidal Soap Concentrate |
A 20 y/o female student in
college horticulture class received drip of insecticidal soap in
eyes while spraying hanging baskets. She developed eye symptoms
and sought health care the following day. Teacher planned to
use this as a teaching case to motivate students to “always wear
gloves and goggles, even with insecticidal soap.” |
Back to the Top
Pesticide-related illness
and injury in
school environments: National report, JAMA 2005
An article in the
July 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA)
highlights problems that children and school staff can experience when
pesticides are used at or near schools. The study identified 2,593
pesticide-related illnesses at schools nationwide over a recent 5-year
period.
Findings from the JAMA article include the following:
- Reported symptoms included: skin and eye irritation; coughing and other
respiratory effects; nausea, vomiting, and dizziness; and allergic and
asthmatic reactions.
-
90% of the
illnesses were classified as mild symptoms consisting mostly of
short-term and irritant symptoms which resolved without medical
treatment.
-
70% of the
exposures were from pesticides applied on school grounds. These
incidents occurred when:
-
custodians or gardeners were
accidentally exposed to pesticide during application;
-
pesticides drifted into school buildings from a
nearby or adjacent outdoor application;
-
children inhaled residual pesticide after entering treated
buildings or grounds.
Pesticide illnesses in schools are preventable
Is a pesticide really needed? To help minimize pesticide
exposure, use an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach.
Choose the most effective and least hazardous method to control pests.
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Most incidents in schools
have occurred when:
-
Pesticide was applied when staff or students
were nearby.
-
Airborne volatiles
from a pesticide product lingered and bothered people when
they re-entered the building or field.
-
Pesticide drifted
into a school from a nearby yard or farm.
-
The person applying the
pesticide accidentally exposed him/herself to the product.
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To help minimize or prevent pesticide
exposure:
- Do not apply
pesticides when staff or students are present.
- Use gels, baits and
other formulations that can be applied in places that are inaccessible to
children.
- Use products that
stay where they are applied. Avoid products that cause the pesticide
to become airborne, such as aerosols and products that volatilize.
- If a pesticide is
used indoors, be sure to thoroughly ventilate the area before
allowing re-entry.
- If an odor is
present after the recommended ventilation time, ventilate again before allowing
students or staff back in.
- Pesticide applicators must be
appropriately trained and/or
licensed. They should follow all instructions and restrictions
specified on the label.
- All posting and
notification rules must be followed so that students and staff can
avoid the treated area and have access to more information.
Back to the Top
Integrated Pest Management is the preferred pest control
approach in schools
The Washington State Department of
Health encourages pesticide applicators to be careful when using pesticides in schools. We recommend
that schools and daycares take a preventative approach to pest control.
This approach is referred to as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
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What is IPM?
IPM is Integrated Pest Management. In IPM, we learn
about pests and select the best control methods with the least risk to people, pets, and the environment. IPM
involves monitoring for pests, and integrating physical, mechanical,
biological and, if necessary, chemical methods to achieve long-term
control. For more information, see the EPA Web site on
IPM in Schools. |
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IPM focuses on addressing the
underlying cause of the insect, rodent or weed problem. While pesticides may
be used, the IPM approach seeks first to change the conditions which
allow pests to survive and thrive. For example, cockroach and
rodent control would include maintaining good sanitation practices around kitchens
and garbage cans, and repairing
holes and cracks where rodents can enter.
IPM is endorsed by EPA,
the National PTA, and the National Education Association.
Web sites with more information on IPM:
DOH and OSPI Recommend IPM
Recommendations from the
Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and the Washington State
Office of Public Instruction (OSPI) for pest control in schools can be
found at the following Web sites:
DOH: School
Indoor Air Quality Best Management Practices Manual (see page 75).
OSPI and
DOH:
Health and Safety Guide for K-12 Schools in Washington (see Part
2, School Safety Guide Checklist, page 45).
What other organizations are saying about IPM in schools
“The
National PTA encourages the use of integrated pest management (IPM)
at homes and schools to minimize exposure to pesticides. Instead of
relying solely on pesticides to control pests, IPM uses natural
biological pest control methods such as introducing natural
predators and removing elements – food, shelter, and water – that
pests need to survive.”
-- National PTA Leader’s Guide to Environmental Issues
"A
healthy school environment is essential. All students and staff have
a right to learn and work in a healthy school environment, safe from
air pollution, radiation, sound and mechanical stress, and chemical
exposures."
-- National Association of School Nurses
“Integrated
Pest Management (IPM) is a least toxic approach to getting rid of
pests. … IPM has worked well in large commercial facilities,
schools, agricultural areas, and homes.”
--
Children’s Environmental Health Network
“Put
simply, integrated pest management (IPM) is a safer, and usually
less costly option for effective pest management in a school
community.”
--
EPA, Office of Pesticide Programs
To read what other organizations are
saying about IPM, please visit the
EPA Integrated
Pest Management in Schools Web site.
Back to
the Top
Schools near agricultural
activities
DOH
supports efforts to reduce practices that contribute to hazardous agricultural pesticide drift
and its associated health risks.
Factors that contribute to hazardous pesticide drift
include: use of highly toxic pesticides, use of volatile
pesticide products, use of equipment that produces fine sprays,
windy conditions, and temperature inversions.
Most agricultural pesticide labels include
the following warning:
“Do
not apply this product in a way that it contacts workers or other
persons either directly or through drift.”
This warning makes it
illegal for a nearby farm to cause pesticides to drift anywhere people are likely
to be exposed, including onto school property.
Prevent drift
Pesticide applicators must
adhere to specific practices listed on the
pesticide label to prevent drift. To further reduce the chance of
pesticide drift into schools, do not spray near schools when:
-
Application equipment
creates fine sprays that are prone to drift, or
-
The product is volatile, and
-
Wind is variable or blowing towards the school or
daycare, and
-
Children are present or will be
present the next day. Farmers and other pesticide applicators are encouraged to contact
area
schools for the calendar of events and sport activities scheduled to
occur
outside of normal school hours.
If drift
occurs:
-
Turn off school ventilation system,
close windows, and keep students and staff
inside.
-
Contact the
applicator to stop the application. Request information
about the ingredients in the spray.
-
Contact the local
fire department HAZMAT team for advice on hazard assessment and
evacuation.
-
Contact
your local health department for health advice or
contact the following:
-
Report the incident immediately to
the Washington State
Department of Agriculture, (877) 301-4555, for investigation and
enforcement.
-
Notify parents
about the incident.
-
Irrigate the
grounds and wash down playground equipment before children
reenter the play areas. Change air filters on the
ventilation system.
Back to
the Top
Pest
and pesticide rules for schools
1. Chapter 246-366-050 WAC (School Buildings):
(5) The premises and all buildings shall be free of insects and
rodents of public health significance and conditions which attract,
provide harborage and promote propagation of vermin.
(6) All poisonous compounds shall be easily identified, used with
extreme caution and stored in such a manner as to prevent
unauthorized use or possible contamination of food or drink.
2. RCW
17.21.415 (Washington State Department of Agriculture):
Schools and daycares
in Washington state are required by law to have a written pest control
policy, to notify interested parents before pesticides are used
indoors or outdoors, and to post all areas treated with a pesticide.
This law is intended to help reduce or eliminate the possibility of
student or staff exposure to pesticides.
For complete information on this posting and notification
rule, see:
Back to
the Top
For more information about the Pesticides Program, please contact
Cynthia López
or 360-236-3340.
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