products and formulations. General-use pesticides available for homeowner use
indoors are usually aerosols (spray cans and foggers), ready-to-use (pumps and
liquids), pet products (flea and tick shampoos for dogs and cats), and baits (rat and
mouse poisons). In order for a toxic effect to occur, direct contact by mouth, skin, or
lungs must occur. Specific ‘‘dos’’ and ‘‘don’ts’’ for a pesticide product are on the label
under the precautionary statement section. The best protection from exposure is to
read and follow the label.
Irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat can occur with the use of aerosols and fog-
gers if ventilation directions are not followed. In addition, disinfection of bathrooms,
especially toilets, can also result in irritation. Overusing too much of one product,
using one product too often, or using several products at the same time may also
cause overexposure.^22Risks to ChildrenPesticides sold for household use, notably impregnated strips and foggers, or
‘‘bombs,’’ which are technically classed as semivolatile organic compounds, include a
variety of chemicals in various forms. Exposure to pesticides may cause harm if they
are used improperly. However, exposure to pesticides via inhalation of spray mists
may occur during normal use. Exposure, particularly to children who may be in close
contact with contaminated surfaces, can also occur via inhalation of vapors and con-
taminated dusts after use.
Increased odds of childhood leukemia, brain cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma have
been associated with children living in households where pesticides are used. Other
childhood malignancies associated with pesticide exposures include neuroblastoma,
Wilms’ tumor, Ewing’s sarcoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and other cancers.^23Home and Garden Pesticide SurveyThe Research Triangle Institute of North Carolina conducted a one-time national sur-
vey in 1990 of more than 2,000 households in fifty-eight counties across the country,
examining what pesticides are used for specific pest problems, how often they are used,
how they are applied, how unused pesticides are stored or disposed of, how empty pesti-
cide containers are disposed of, the extent of child-resistant packaging, the effectiveness
of pesticides, and which pests are major problems. The sample was representative of an
estimated 84,573,000 households. The findings of the survey included:- About 85 percent of the households surveyed stored at least one pesticide
product when the survey was conducted. Most, about 63 percent, had between
one and five pesticide products in the home. - Fire ants were the most serious problem of the surveyed households, with cock-
roaches, other types of ants, fleas, and mice or rats being the most serious
problems inside the home.
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