Pest and Pesticide Exposure Trends in Alaska - 2002-2012

Bloecher, Patrick

INTRODUCTION:

Bed bugs, yellow-jackets, and other pest issues have caught statewide attention in Alaska. This has resulted in an increased risk for pesticide misuse. Before December 29^th, 2013, healthcare providers were not required to report pesticide exposure cases. This has resulted in limited data on pesticide exposures in Alaska. Pesticide exposure data for Alaska has not been previously published. This study aimed to document pesticide exposure trends in Alaska from 2002-2012.

METHODS:

Data were gathered from the Oregon Poison Center’s Toxicall-Toxic Exposure Surveillance System database, which serves as Alaska’s Poison Center. Data were entered into an Excel spreadsheet and sorted by total number of exposures for all ages and for exposures in children five years of age and younger. Exposures were further separated into the following categories: Pyrethrins & Pyrethroids, Insect Repellants, and Rodenticides.

RESULTS:

During the years 2002-2012 there were a total of 1,417 pesticide exposures reported to the Alaska Poison Center. Nearly one out of five exposures (18.4%) was managed in a health care facility. Of the total number of exposures reported, 851 (60%) had occurred in children under the age of five. No deaths were reported. Of the total number of pesticide exposures reported, insect repellants were responsible for the most (28.5%), followed by rodenticides (23.8%), and finally Pyrethrins & Pyrethroids (21.7%). Of insect repellant and rodenticide exposures, over 70% occurred in children five years old or younger (73% and 75% respectively). A 35% increase in reported exposures occurred from 2010-2012.

CONCLUSIONS:

As pest issues continue to rise in Alaska, the risk for pesticide misuse will increase. A robust surveillance system might include using Toxicall data along with pesticide cases reported by providers, required under State law. As pest issues increase, surveillance on pesticide exposures can help guide environmental public health professionals in their approach to minimizing potentially harmful exposures.