• Naomi L Hudson, Edward J Kasner, John Beckman, Louise Mehler, Abby Schwartz, Sheila Higgins, Joanne Bonnar-Prado, Michelle Lackovic, Prakash Mulay, Yvette Mitchell, Leo Larios, Rob Walker, Justin Waltz, Stephanie Moraga-McHaley, Rachel Roisman, and Geoffrey M Calvert.
• Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Am. J. Ind. Med. 2014 Jan 1; 57 (1): 15-30.

BackgroundExcluding disinfectants, pyrethrins and pyrethroids are the pesticides used most commonly in and around homes. Respiratory effects and paresthesia are among the concerns about pyrethrin/pyrethroid exposures.MethodsAcute pesticide-related illness/injury cases were identified from the Sentinel Event Notification System for Occupational Risks-Pesticides Program and the California Department of Pesticide Regulation from 2000-2008. Characteristics and incidence rates were determined for acute pyrethrin/pyrethroid-related illness/injury cases. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine odds of respiratory and dermal symptoms in persons with illness/injury following pyrethrin/pyrethroid exposure compared to persons with illness/injury following exposure to other pesticides.ResultsA total of 4,974 cases of acute pyrethrin/pyrethroid-related illness were identified. Incidence rates increased over time, reaching 8 cases/million population in 2008. The majority of cases were low severity (85%) and 34% were work-related. Respiratory effects were the most common symptoms reported (48%). Risk of acute respiratory effects were significantly elevated among persons exposed only to pyrethrins (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.79; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.49-2.16), only to pyrethroids (aOR 1.99 95% CI: 1.77-2.24), to a mixture of pyrethroids (aOR 2.36; 95% CI: 1.99-2.81) or to a mixture containing both pyrethrins and pyrethroids (aOR 2.99; 95% CI: 2.33-3.84) compared to those with illness arising from exposure to other pesticides. The most common factors contributing to pyrethrin/pyrethroid-related illness included exposure from spills/splashes, improper storage, and failure to evacuate during pesticide application.ConclusionsThe magnitude of acute pyrethrin/pyrethroid-related illness/injury is relatively low but is increasing. As such, additional measures to prevent them are needed.Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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