Acute Pesticide Illnesses Associated with Off-Target Pesticide Drift from Agricultural Applications: 11 States, 1998-2006

作者：Lee Soo Jeong; Mehler Louise; Beckman John; Diebolt Brown Brienne; Prado Joanne; Lackovic Michelle; Waltz Justin; Mulay Prakash; Schwartz Abby; Mitchell Yvette; Moraga McHaley Stephanie; Gergely Rita; Calvert Geoffrey M^*

来源：Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011, 119(8): 1162-1169.

DOI：10.1289/ehp.1002843

• agriculture
• drift
• pesticides
• poisoning
• surveillance

BACKGROUND: Pesticides are widely used in agriculture, and off-target pesticide drift exposes workers and the public to harmful chemicals.
OBJECTIVE: We estimated the incidence of acute illnesses from pesticide drift from outdoor agricultural applications and characterized drift exposure and illnesses.
METHODS: Data were obtained from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks-Pesticides program and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. Drift included off-target movement of pesticide spray, volatiles, and contaminated dust. Acute illness cases were characterized by demographics, pesticide and application variables, health effects, and contributing factors.
RESULTS: From 1998 through 2006, we identified 2,945 cases associated with agricultural pesticide drift from 11 states. Our findings indicate that 47% were exposed at work, 92% experienced low-severity illness, and 14% were children (< 15 years). The annual incidence ranged from 1.39 to 5.32 per million persons over the 9-year period. The overall incidence (in million person-years) was 114.3 for agricultural workers, 0.79 for other workers, 1.56 for nonoccupational cases, and 42.2 for residents in five agriculture-intensive counties in California. Soil applications with fumigants were responsible for the largest percentage (45%) of cases. Aerial applications accounted for 24% of cases. Common factors contributing to drift cases included weather conditions, improper seal of the fumigation site, and applicator carelessness near nontarget areas.
CONCLUSIONS: Agricultural workers and residents in agricultural regions had the highest rate of pesticide poisoning from drift exposure, and soil fumigations were a major hazard, causing large drift incidents. Our findings highlight areas where interventions to reduce off-target drift could be focused.

• 出版日期2011-8