Acute pesticide-related illnesses among working youths, 1998-1999

The goal of this study was to describe acute occupational pesticide-related illnesses among youths and to provide prevention recommendations. Survey data from 8 states and from poison control center data were analyzed. Illness incidence rates and incidence rate ratios were calculated. Results showed that a total of 531 youths were identified with acute occupational pesticide-related illnesses. Insecticides were responsible for most of these illnesses (68%), most of which were of minor severity (79%). The average annual incidence rate among youth =s aged 15 to 17 years was 20.4 per billion hours worked, and the incidence rate ratio among youth vs. adults was 1.71. In conclusion, the present findings suggest the need for greater efforts to prevent acute occupational pesticide-related illnesses among adolescents.