TOP PESTICIDE BLUNDERS – THINK BEFORE YOU SPRAY!
SACRAMENTO – Learn from the mistakes of others before you use
pesticides for spring-cleaning and gardening chores.
The California Department of Pesticide Regulation today released
its latest list of “top pesticide blunders” to help people
avoid needless injury and illness. Our health and safety
scientists say a few simple precautions can prevent most
pesticide accidents in and around your home:
Don’t use a pesticide unless you really need it -- look
for the least-toxic solution to pest problems, indoors and
out.
Keep pesticides in their original containers to avoid
mistaking them for snacks. And always keep pesticides out of children's reach.
If you must use a pesticide product, read all label
directions closely, follow those directions to the letter,
and stay alert while using the product.
“Pesticides include a wide variety of over-the-counter
products – including mold and mildew cleaners, disinfectants,
weed killers and pool chemicals – that can be used safely, but
only if consumers recognize them as toxic chemicals,” said DPR
Director Mary-Ann Warmerdam. “Careless misuse of these products
can expose homeowners, children and pets to serious hazards.”
To help consumers avoid mistakes, DPR offers these “top
pesticide blunders” from our illness report database:
1. When Orange County residents complained of a raccoon
problem, a friend overseas sent them a black, granular
pesticide. The wife mixed it with meat as bait for raccoons. The
raccoons did not eat it, so she labeled and froze the meatballs.
Some time later, her husband cooked and ate the meatballs. He
became seriously ill and drove to a hospital. (Suspected
pesticide-poisoning victims should never drive themselves to
treatment, since they may be impaired by the toxin.) This victim
survived both his mistakes. Later analysis of the pesticide
showed that it was nine percent aldicarb, a highly toxic
insecticide; one teaspoon of the pure ingredient could kill five
healthy adults.
2. In Los Angeles County, a woman put some insecticide
into a soft drink bottle and gave it to her sister to take home.
The sister left the bottle on a table, where her husband and
four-year-old daughter drank from it. They recognized their
mistake and made themselves vomit before going to an emergency
room; both recovered. (However, some liquid pesticides pose a
risk to the lungs from induced vomiting. Pesticide labels
provide treatment instructions, but these victims did not have a
labeled container. Fortunately, they had no further health
problems from their pesticide exposure.)
3. In San Joaquin County, an apartment dweller set off a
“bug bomb” sitting on top of his gas stove. When the aerosol
came in contact with the stove’s pilot light, the resulting
blast blew out the apartment’s windows, pushed out walls and
raised the roof. A neighbor’s windows also blew out, according
to firefighters who responded to the scene. “Bug bombs” should
never be used in any structure until all ignition sources –
including gas pilot lights – are turned off.
4. A Kern County homeowner left a container of pool
chlorine powder in the sun on a warm day. When he opened the
container, the heated and pressurized powder blew into his face
and eyes. He sought medical treatment for symptoms that included
eye irritation.
5. An Imperial County homeowner activated six “bug bombs”
inside his kitchen cabinets without turning off the gas stove’s
pilot light. He then waited at the kitchen entrance because he
wanted to see the cockroaches die. The pilot light ignited the
fogger propellant, causing extensive damage. The victim suffered
burns to his face, arms and legs, but he did not require
hospitalization.
6. A Los Angeles woman poured a bleach solution into a
water bottle to sanitize it. When she placed several drinking
water bottles in her refrigerator. She mistakenly included the
one containing sanitizer as well, and later took a drink of the
bleach.
7. A Monterey County apartment resident poured three
cleaning products into a toilet bowl – an inappropriate mix --
left the bathroom, and returned a short time later. When she
entered the room, she inhaled the vapors from the chemical
reaction, began to experience breathing problems, and had to
call 911 for assistance.
The incidents listed above occurred in 2006 and 2007. As
always, DPR observes medical privacy law and does not reveal
victim identities. The 2006
summary of
all illness reports is now available.
As part of ongoing efforts to increase illness reporting and
assist incident investigations, DPR last year launched a
toll-free phone number, 1-87-PESTline (1-877-378-5463) to help
people contact their County Agricultural Commissioner to report
incidents or file complaints. The toll-free number is being
added to phone directory white pages statewide. By state law,
physicians are also required to report suspected pesticide
illness, but many home accidents are never reported.
For more information on home and garden pesticide safety, see
DPR consumer fact sheets
One of six departments and boards within Cal/EPA, DPR
regulates the sale and use of pesticides to protect people and
our environment.
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